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

Abshire, 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 Abshire surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Abshire in America

Abshire is the 7010th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Abshire surname appeared 4,778 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Abshire.

We can also compare 2010 data for Abshire 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 Abshire

The surname Abshire is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "æt" meaning "at" and "byrig" meaning "a fortified place or town," forming the phrase "at the borough." This suggests that the name was likely borne by individuals who resided in or near a fortified town or borough.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1221, where a Thomas de Aburbury is mentioned. This early spelling variation, Aburbury, provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

The Abshire surname is also believed to have connections to various place names in England, such as Abberbury in Shropshire and Aberford in West Yorkshire. These place names share similarities with the surname, further reinforcing its geographical origins.

Notable historical figures bearing the Abshire surname include Sir Edward Abshire (1574-1647), an English politician who served as a member of parliament during the reign of King Charles I. Another prominent individual was John Abshire (1660-1721), a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker from London, whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by aristocrats and nobility.

In the literary world, the name gained recognition through the works of William Abshire (1785-1859), an English poet and playwright whose works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

Moving forward in time, the Abshire surname continued to be represented by notable individuals, such as Mary Abshire (1892-1978), a pioneering social worker and advocate for women's rights in the United States.

Throughout history, the Abshire surname has maintained a presence across various fields, from politics and craftsmanship to literature and social activism, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural tapestry of England and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Abshire

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

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

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

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