Emery first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Emery has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Emery

A unisex name derived from the Old French word "aimerie" meaning "industrious".

Popularity of Emery by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Emery is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 82% of people named Emery being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 3,104 female babies and 347 male babies born with the name Emery.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 347 3,104
2022 354 2,961
2021 325 2,918
2020 329 2,979
2019 327 3,013
2018 300 3,005
2017 303 2,698
2016 341 2,420
2015 324 2,423
2014 366 2,046
2013 316 1,674
2012 367 1,485
2011 322 1,172
2010 311 1,024
2009 292 974
2008 302 680
2007 204 520
2006 180 352
2005 169 318
2004 121 207
2003 123 155
2002 97 133
2001 88 106
2000 84 103
1999 79 109
1998 80 91
1997 80 71
1996 69 75
1995 80 47
1994 87 39
1993 74 39
1992 90 45
1991 76 26
1990 74 29
1989 81 27
1988 82 18
1987 86 20
1986 78 21
1985 76 19
1984 67 17
1983 72 19
1982 82 12
1981 82 11
1980 65 8
1979 91 11
1978 64 11
1977 72 9
1976 73 0
1975 76 6
1974 59 13

The history of the first name Emery

The name Emery has its origins in the Late Latin word "smirillus," which means "to polish or grind." This name was initially used as a professional title for someone who worked as a polisher or grinder, particularly of gemstones or metals.

In the Middle Ages, the name Emery became associated with the mineral emery, a granular variety of corundum used for polishing and grinding. This connection likely contributed to the name's evolution and its use as a given name.

The earliest recorded use of Emery as a given name dates back to the 13th century in France and England. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Emery de Rivo, a 13th-century English landowner and feudal baron.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Emery. One of the most prominent was Emery Molyneux (1639-1698), an English philosopher and writer who was a prominent advocate of the mechanical philosophy of René Descartes.

Another notable figure was Emery Washburn (1800-1877), an American politician and jurist who served as the 25th governor of Massachusetts. He was also a professor at Harvard Law School and played a significant role in shaping the legal system of Massachusetts.

In the field of literature, Emery Walker (1851-1933) was a renowned English engraver, printer, and typographer. He collaborated with William Morris and was instrumental in the revival of fine printing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Emery Reves (1904-1981) was a Hungarian-American writer and publisher who founded the influential literary magazine "Cooperation Press" and authored several books on political and economic topics.

Emery Barnes (1929-1998) was an American jazz drummer and percussionist who played with notable artists such as Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, and Dizzy Gillespie, and was a key figure in the development of bebop and hard bop.

The name Emery has been used across various cultures and time periods, reflecting its historical roots as a professional title and its association with the polishing and grinding of materials. Despite its occupational origins, the name has transcended its initial meaning and has been embraced as a given name for both men and women.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Emery was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Emery, please contact us.

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"Emery first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/emery-meaning-and-history/.

"Emery first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/emery-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Emery first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/emery-meaning-and-history/.

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