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

Bembry, 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 Bembry surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bembry in America

Bembry is the 19763rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bembry surname appeared 1,362 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 Bembry.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bembry 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 Bembry

The surname Bembry is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the West Country regions of Somerset and Dorset. It is derived from the Old English word "benne," which means "marsh" or "fen." This suggests that the name likely refers to someone who lived near a marshy area or a village named after such a location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Beneberge," referring to a settlement in Somerset. This early spelling variation highlights the connection to the Old English word "benne" and the geographical feature associated with the name.

In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Benebiry" and "Bennebury," further reinforcing its ties to the West Country. During this period, the name was also found in various forms, such as "Bennebiry" and "Benbery," reflecting the regional dialects and variations in spelling conventions.

One notable bearer of the Bembry surname was John Bembry, who lived in Somerset in the late 16th century. He was a prominent landowner and represented the county in the Parliament of 1586.

Another individual with this surname was William Bembry, born in Dorset in 1612. He was a respected scholar and author, known for his work on English literature and history.

In the 17th century, the name Bembry also appeared in parish records in the village of Beaminster, Dorset. This likely indicates that the name had spread from its original Somerset roots to neighboring counties.

The surname Bembry has also been linked to several place names in the West Country, such as Bembry Farm in Somerset and Bembry Moor in Dorset. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and the geographical features associated with its origins.

Among the notable figures bearing the Bembry surname in more recent history was Sir Thomas Bembry (1832-1908), a prominent politician and industrialist from Somerset. He played a significant role in the development of the region's mining and manufacturing industries.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Bembry (1876-1962), a renowned educator and women's rights advocate from Dorset. She was instrumental in establishing several schools for girls in the county and campaigned tirelessly for equal educational opportunities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bembry

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

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

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

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