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

Blackshire, 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 Blackshire surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blackshire in America

Blackshire is the 20149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blackshire surname appeared 1,325 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 Blackshire.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blackshire 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 Blackshire

The surname BLACKSHIRE has its origins in England, emerging in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "blæc" meaning black and "scir" meaning a shire or county. The name likely referred to someone who resided in or near a shire with a dark or shaded landscape.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1196, where a certain Robert de Blackschire is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the southwestern region of England by the late 12th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name appears in various forms, such as Blakeschyre, Blakesshire, and Blakshyre, reflecting the variations in spelling common in medieval times. In the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, a John de Blakeschyre is listed as holding land in the village of Ducklington.

The name BLACKSHIRE can also be linked to specific places, such as the village of Blackshire in Wiltshire, which was recorded as Blakeschyre in the Domesday Book of 1086. This suggests that some individuals may have adopted the surname from the place name itself.

Notable historical figures bearing the BLACKSHIRE surname include:

1. Sir William BLACKSHIRE (c. 1450 - 1520), a renowned English knight and landowner who served under King Henry VII and King Henry VIII.

2. Elizabeth BLACKSHIRE (1565 - 1630), a prominent benefactor and philanthropist in the city of Bristol, known for her charitable works and endowments.

3. John BLACKSHIRE (1610 - 1686), a Puritan minister and author who emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony and served as the pastor of the First Church of Boston.

4. Thomas BLACKSHIRE (1738 - 1804), a British explorer and surveyor who mapped vast regions of Australia during the early colonial period.

5. Mary BLACKSHIRE (1812 - 1890), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights, who established several schools for girls in London and campaigned for equal educational opportunities.

While the BLACKSHIRE surname was once widespread across various regions of England, it has become relatively uncommon in modern times, reflecting the changes and migrations of populations over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blackshire

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

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

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

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