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

Ayer, 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 Ayer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ayer in America

Ayer is the 9520th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ayer surname appeared 3,415 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ayer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ayer 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 Ayer

The surname Ayer is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. Its roots can be traced back to the Old English word "ayer," which means "air" or "breeze." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in an area known for its fresh air or breezy climate.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Aire" and "Ayre." These entries likely refer to places or settlements associated with the name, rather than individuals.

In the 13th century, the surname Ayer began appearing in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as "Ayer" and "Ayre." This spelling variation indicates the flexibility of the name's pronunciation and recording during that time period.

Throughout the centuries, the Ayer surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Sir Robert Ayer (1513-1569), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable bearer of the name was John Ayer (1636-1724), one of the early settlers in Haverhill, Massachusetts, in the 17th century. He played a significant role in the establishment of the town and left a lasting legacy in the region.

In the 18th century, James Ayer (1730-1798) was a respected merchant and landowner in Newbury, Massachusetts. His descendants went on to become influential figures in the business and political spheres of New England.

Moving into the 19th century, Frederick Ayer (1822-1918) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Boston. He was a prominent advocate for public libraries and donated generously toward educational causes.

Lastly, Nathaniel Ayer (1861-1932) was a notable financier and art collector from Boston. He amassed a significant collection of paintings, which he later bequeathed to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, further enhancing the city's cultural heritage.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Ayer surname throughout history, contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on the communities in which they lived.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ayer

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

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

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

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