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

Blackshear, 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 Blackshear surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blackshear in America

Blackshear is the 8293rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blackshear surname appeared 3,995 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 Blackshear.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blackshear 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 Blackshear

The surname BLACKSHEAR has its origins in England, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated from a location or place name, possibly a small village or hamlet. The name likely derives from the Old English words "blæc" meaning "black" and "scear" meaning "a share or portion," suggesting a connection to a piece of dark-colored or fertile land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BLACKSHEAR can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was well-established in certain regions of England by the late 11th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, variations of the spelling, such as "Blakeshere" and "Blakesheare," appeared in various records and documents, reflecting the evolution of the name over time. Some notable individuals bearing the BLACKSHEAR surname from this period include John Blackshear, a landowner in Gloucestershire mentioned in the Court Rolls of 1327, and William Blackshear, a merchant from Bristol recorded in the city's trade records in 1391.

As the centuries progressed, the BLACKSHEAR name spread across different parts of England, and some members of the family migrated to other regions or countries. One notable figure was Sir Thomas Blackshear (1560-1622), a military officer who served in the English army during the reign of Elizabeth I and was knighted for his service in the Netherlands.

In the 17th century, the BLACKSHEAR surname made its way to the American colonies, with several individuals bearing the name appearing in early colonial records. One such individual was Edward Blackshear (1623-1687), a farmer and landowner who settled in Virginia in the mid-1600s and is considered one of the earliest ancestors of many BLACKSHEAR families in the United States.

Another notable figure from this time period was Captain John Blackshear (1670-1742), a British naval officer who later became a prominent figure in the colonial government of South Carolina. He served as a member of the Governor's Council and played a significant role in the development of the colony.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the BLACKSHEAR surname continued to be present in various parts of the United States, with families establishing roots in states such as Georgia, Alabama, and Texas. One notable individual from this era was General Edmund Blackshear (1766-1827), a military officer and politician who served in the Georgia state legislature and was involved in the Creek War of 1813-1814.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blackshear

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

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

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

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