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

Acre, 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 Acre surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Acre in America

Acre is the 31754th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Acre surname appeared 727 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 Acre.

We can also compare 2010 data for Acre 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 Acre

The surname "ACRE" is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "æcer," meaning a field or cultivated land. It first emerged as a surname in the 12th century, primarily in the counties of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

This surname is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near or worked on an acre of land. It could also have been an occupational name for someone who worked as a land surveyor or measured and marked out acres of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "ACRE" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a certain William de Acra is mentioned. This early spelling variation, "de Acra," reflects the French influence on English surnames during the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "Aker," "Akyr," and "Akere," reflecting the fluid nature of spelling during that period. One notable bearer of the name was John Aker, a landowner in Worcestershire, who is mentioned in the Court Rolls of 1275.

During the 14th century, the surname "ACRE" started to take on its modern spelling. In 1327, the Poll Tax records of Yorkshire mention a Thomas de Acre, indicating the spread of the name beyond its original regions.

In the 15th century, the surname is found in various documents, including the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1428, which mentions a John Acre. Another notable bearer was William Acre, a merchant from Bristol, who is recorded in the city's records in 1467.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname "ACRE" was Sir John Acre (1515-1592), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1569 and was knighted in 1578.

Another notable figure was Robert Acre (1635-1701), an English clergyman and philosopher who served as the Rector of Cheam in Surrey. He was known for his writings on natural philosophy and theology.

In the 18th century, the surname gained prominence with the birth of John Acre (1740-1820), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was knighted for his distinguished service.

The 19th century saw the rise of James Acre (1832-1904), a British businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry. He was known for his generous donations to various charitable causes, including the founding of the Acre Hospital in his hometown of Huddersfield.

Throughout its history, the surname "ACRE" has maintained its connection to the land and agriculture, reflecting the origins of many English surnames. While it may not be as common today as some other surnames, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English heritage and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Acre

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!