Find out how popular the last name Abernathey is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Abernathey.

Abernathey, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Abernathey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Abernathey in America

Abernathey is the 69170th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Abernathey surname appeared 284 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Abernathey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Abernathey to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Abernathey

The surname Abernathey has its origins in Scotland, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic "Obar Natheich," which translates to "the confluence of the Nathans," referring to a location where two rivers or streams meet.

This surname is closely associated with the Abernethy region in Perthshire, Scotland. In the 13th century, a branch of the Abernethy clan settled in the area of Glencairn in Dumfriesshire, and the name evolved to Abernathey over time.

One of the earliest known references to the name Abernathey appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of feudal homages rendered to King Edward I of England. This document lists several individuals with the surname Abernathey or variations thereof, such as Abernethy or Abirnethy.

In the 14th century, the Abernatheys were prominent landowners in the Scottish Borders region. Sir Alexander Abernathey, born around 1320, was a renowned knight who fought alongside King Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

During the 16th century, the Abernathey family expanded their influence and landholdings in the Borders area. John Abernathey, born in 1505, was a respected laird (landowner) and served as a magistrate in the town of Jedburgh.

Another notable figure was James Abernathey, born in 1620, who was a Presbyterian minister and played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation. He was known for his fiery sermons and unwavering commitment to the Presbyterian cause.

In the 18th century, the Abernatheys continued to be prominent in Scottish society. Alexander Abernathey, born in 1745, was a successful merchant and landowner in Edinburgh, and his son, William Abernathey, born in 1770, was a renowned surgeon and anatomist.

As the Abernathey family spread throughout Scotland and beyond, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Abernethy, Abernethie, and Abernathy. These variations can often be traced back to different regions or local dialects within Scotland.

While the surname Abernathey has its roots firmly planted in Scottish history, individuals bearing this name have made their mark across the globe, contributing to various fields and leaving a lasting legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Abernathey

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Abernathey.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Abernathey was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Abernathey has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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