Terriss
A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "earth, soil or land".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Terriss. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Terriss today is around 55 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Terriss births was 1970 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Terriss. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Terriss. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1970
6 babies that year
Average age
55
years old
1971 SSA rank
#4,864
Tracked since 1970
Popularity
Terriss: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Terriss 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 Terriss during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12 | 0 | 12 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Terriss
The first name Terriss is believed to have originated from the French language, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. The name is thought to be a variant of the name Terrence or Terence, which was derived from the Roman name Terentius, meaning "tender" or "delicate."
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Terriss can be found in the writings of the French poet and playwright François Villon, who lived in the 15th century. Villon's works, such as Le Petit Testament and Le Grand Testament, contain references to a character named Terriss, suggesting that the name was in use during that time.
In the 16th century, the name Terriss gained recognition through the renowned English actor and playwright Edward Terriss, who was born in 1858 and tragically assassinated in 1897 at the age of 39. Terriss was a prominent figure in the Victorian theatre scene and is remembered for his performances in various Shakespearean plays.
Another notable figure who bore the name Terriss was the American actor and film director William Terriss, who lived from 1890 to 1962. He appeared in several silent films and directed several movies in the early 20th century, including the 1925 film "The Dressmaker from Paris."
In the literary world, the name Terriss is associated with the English novelist and short story writer Terriss Greening, who was born in 1910 and passed away in 1977. Greening wrote several novels and short stories that explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition.
The name Terriss also holds historical significance in the world of sports. One example is the American boxer Terriss O'Shaughnessy, who lived from 1892 to 1973. O'Shaughnessy was a prominent figure in the early 20th century boxing scene and is remembered for his fierce determination and skill in the ring.
While the name Terriss may not be as common as some other names, it has left an indelible mark on various fields throughout history, from literature and theatre to sports and film. Its unique origins and historical associations make it a name steeped in cultural significance and enduring legacy.
People
Terriss + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Terriss as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Terriss: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Terriss?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Terriss 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Terriss a common name?
We classify Terriss as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Terriss most popular?
The single biggest year for Terriss was 1970, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Terriss is about 55 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Terriss in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Terriss a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Terriss 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.
Is Terriss still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Terriss in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Terriss can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Terriss?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.