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

Asbury, 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 Asbury surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Asbury in America

Asbury is the 4157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Asbury surname appeared 8,522 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Asbury.

We can also compare 2010 data for Asbury 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 Asbury

The surname Asbury has its origins in England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from a combination of the Old English words "æsc" (ash) and "burh" (fortified place), suggesting a connection to a place surrounded by ash trees.

During the medieval period, the name Asbury was prevalent in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire. Early records show variations in spelling, such as Ashebury, Ashbury, and Asshbury, reflecting the fluid nature of naming conventions at the time.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Asbury can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed landowners and tenants in England. This record mentions a Robert de Assebury, indicating the presence of the name in the 13th century.

In the 16th century, the Asbury surname gained prominence through John Asbury, a prominent English merchant and alderman of London. Born in 1522, John Asbury played a significant role in the city's trade and commerce during the reign of Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure bearing the Asbury name was Francis Asbury, a renowned Methodist preacher and bishop. Born in 1745 in Handsworth, Staffordshire, Asbury is regarded as one of the founding figures of Methodism in America, traveling extensively and establishing numerous churches throughout the colonies.

Moving into the 19th century, the Asbury surname continued to be associated with notable individuals. One such example is Walter Asbury, born in 1833, a prominent English industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of Birmingham and the surrounding areas.

In the realm of literature, the name Asbury is tied to Herbert Asbury, an American author and journalist born in 1889. He is best known for his works on urban folklore and crime, including the influential book "The Gangs of New York," which inspired the critically acclaimed film of the same name.

While the surname Asbury may have originated from a specific geographic location in England, it has since spread across the globe, with descendants bearing the name contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Asbury

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

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

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

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