Find out how popular the first name Kersey has been for the last 24 years (from 1989 to 2012) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Kersey by gender

Based on the last 24 years of data, Kersey is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 73% of people named Kersey being female.

For the most recent data in 2012, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Kersey.

The history of the first name Kersey

The name Kersey is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the late 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cerse," meaning "cress," which is a type of edible plant. The name may have been initially used as a surname for someone who lived near or was associated with cress plants.

Kersey is also closely related to the word "kersey," which refers to a type of coarse, ribbed cloth that was commonly woven in England during the Middle Ages. It is possible that the name Kersey was given to individuals who were involved in the production or trade of this particular fabric.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kersey dates back to 1592, when a man named John Kersey was mentioned in the records of the village of Kersey in Suffolk, England. This village likely played a role in the origin and popularity of the name in that region.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Kersey. One of the most famous was John Kersey (1616-1690), an English mathematician and author who wrote several influential books on arithmetic and algebra. His works were widely used in schools and universities during the 17th century.

Another notable bearer of the name was Thomas Kersey (1765-1828), an English chemist and inventor who is credited with developing the first modern process for manufacturing sulfuric acid on a large scale. His contributions were instrumental in the growth of the chemical industry during the Industrial Revolution.

In the realm of literature, Kersey is also the first name of Kersey Graves (1813-1888), an American author and philosopher who wrote extensively on religious and spiritual topics, including his book "The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors."

Moving into the 20th century, there was Kersey Black (1898-1981), an American baseball player who played in the Negro leagues and was later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975.

Finally, Kersey Sturdivant (1912-1985) was an American football player who played for the Detroit Lions in the 1930s and later became a successful businessman and philanthropist, supporting various educational and charitable causes.

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 Kersey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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