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

Ards, 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 Ards surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ards in America

Ards is the 86645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ards surname appeared 215 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 Ards.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ards 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 Ards

The surname Ards has its origins in Ireland, where it first emerged in the 12th century. The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "ard," meaning "high" or "elevated," and is believed to have been initially used as a descriptive term for individuals who lived in high or hilly areas.

In its early days, the surname was primarily concentrated in the northern counties of Ireland, particularly in the regions of Antrim and Down. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a medieval chronicle that documents events in Ireland from the 5th to the 16th century.

The Ards surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Ireland. For example, the Ards Peninsula in County Down is believed to have been named after the prominent hills and elevated terrain in the area. Similarly, the town of Ardglass, also in County Down, derives its name from the Irish "Ard Glas," meaning "green height."

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the Ards surname was Robert Ards, who lived in County Antrim in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was John Ards, a landowner and merchant from County Down, who was mentioned in historical records from the 16th century.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Ards surname gained broader recognition as several individuals bearing the name achieved prominence in various fields. Among them was Sir Charles Ards (1660-1742), a renowned jurist and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.

Another notable individual was Captain William Ards (1702-1778), a naval officer who distinguished himself during the Seven Years' War. He later became a member of the Irish Parliament, representing County Down.

In the literary realm, the Ards surname found its place with the poet and playwright John Ards (1798-1867), whose works were widely celebrated during the Romantic era in Ireland.

As the Ards family spread across Ireland and beyond, the surname underwent various spelling variations, including Ard, Ardagh, and Ardey. These variations often reflected regional dialects and linguistic adaptations over time.

While the Ards surname may not be as prevalent today as it once was, its rich history and connection to the Irish landscape and culture remain an integral part of its legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ards

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

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

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

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