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

Aird, 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 Aird surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Aird in America

Aird is the 26695th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Aird surname appeared 912 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 Aird.

We can also compare 2010 data for Aird 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 Aird

The surname Aird has its origins in Scotland, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word 'ard,' meaning a high place or promontory, often referring to a prominent hill or headland near where the family lived. This suggests that the name's earliest bearers likely resided near a notable elevated landform.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Aird name can be found in the Scottish state papers from the 16th century, where individuals with this surname were documented. The name has been historically associated with the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire in the west of Scotland.

In the 17th century, the Aird surname appears in various historical records, including the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland and the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland. One notable bearer of this name was Sir John Aird, a Scottish lawyer and judge who lived from 1616 to 1685.

During the 18th century, the Aird name continued to be present in Scottish records. A notable individual from this period was James Aird, a Scottish writer and poet who lived from 1738 to 1808. His works included the poem "The Captive Linnet" and other nature-themed writings.

In the 19th century, the Aird name gained prominence in the field of engineering and construction. One of the most renowned individuals with this surname was John Aird, a Scottish civil engineer and contractor who lived from 1833 to 1911. He was responsible for the construction of many notable structures, including the Tay Bridge in Scotland and the Victoria Embankment in London.

Another notable figure with the Aird surname was Sir John Aird, 1st Baronet, a Scottish businessman and politician who lived from 1833 to 1911. He served as a Member of Parliament and was also involved in the construction industry, continuing the family's legacy in that field.

The Aird name has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Aird Point, a headland on the Isle of Lewis, and Aird Hill, a prominent elevation near the town of Newburgh in Fife. These place names likely reflect the original meaning of the surname, referring to elevated landforms.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Aird

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

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

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

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