Armour
A masculine name of French origin meaning protection or defensive covering.
Name Census estimates that about 22 living Americans carry the first name Armour. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Armour today is around 69 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Armour births was 1917 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Armour. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Armour is about 69 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Armours were born before 1967.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Armour. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
22
~ 1 in 15,579,743 Americans
Peak year
1917
14 babies that year
Average age
69
years old
2021 SSA rank
#12,297
Tracked since 1907
Popularity
Armour: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Armour from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 70 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Armour by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Armour during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Armour
The name Armour has its roots in the Old French language, originating from the word "armure," which itself is derived from the Latin word "armatura," meaning armor or defensive covering. This connection to armor and military equipment suggests that the name may have initially been used as a surname or occupational name for those involved in the production or use of armor, such as blacksmiths or soldiers.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Armour can be found in the 13th century, when it appeared as a surname in various regions of France. During this period, the use of surnames was becoming more widespread, and occupational names were particularly common, reflecting the trade or profession of the family.
As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, including Armourer, Armorer, and Armorer. These variations reflected the different linguistic influences and dialects present in different regions.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Armour as their first name. One prominent example is Armour Winslow (1810-1876), an American shipping merchant and politician from Massachusetts. Another is Armour David McArthur (1845-1912), a Scottish-born Canadian Anglican bishop and missionary.
In the literary world, Armour Robinson (1889-1964) was a British writer and poet known for his contributions to children's literature. His most famous work, "Winnie-the-Pooh," brought the beloved characters of the Hundred Acre Wood to life.
In the realm of sports, Armour St. John (1909-1976) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for several teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 1930s and 1940s.
Another notable figure is Armour Yates (1901-1978), an American businessman and philanthropist who played a significant role in the development of the aviation industry in the United States.
While the name Armour may not be as common as it once was, its historical roots and connections to various influential individuals make it a unique and fascinating name with a rich heritage.
People
Armour + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Armour as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Armour: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Armour?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 22 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Armour going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 15,579,743 US residents.
Is Armour a common name?
We classify Armour as "Very Rare". It ranks above 41.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 189 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Armour most popular?
The single biggest year for Armour was 1917, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Armour is about 69 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Armour a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Armour in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.