Centers
A surname indicating an ancestor who lived in the center of a village or near the town square.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,536 Americans carry the last name Centers. That puts it at #13,887 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.74 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 135,155 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Centers surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.5K
1 in 135,155
Census rank
#13,887
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,174 bearers of the surname Centers in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.74 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13887th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Centers, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Black (4.2%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Centers
The surname Centers is of English origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "center," which referred to a person who lived or worked at the center of a town or village. The name was originally spelled "Centrer" or "Centrour."
The earliest recorded instance of the name Centers is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, which mentions a John le Centrer. Another early reference is in the Court Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1312, where a William le Centrour is listed.
In the 14th century, the surname Centers began to appear in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Cambridgeshire. It is believed that the name may have originated in these areas.
One notable bearer of the surname Centers was Robert Centers, who was born in 1512 in Lincolnshire. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Stamford.
In the 16th century, the name Centers was also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Essex, which recorded a Thomas Centers in 1524.
During the 17th century, the surname Centers began to spread to other parts of England. One notable figure was John Centers, born in 1634 in Gloucestershire. He was a renowned scholar and author who wrote several books on theology and philosophy.
Another significant bearer of the name was William Centers, who was born in 1670 in Yorkshire. He was a successful businessman and served as the Mayor of Leeds in 1712.
In the 18th century, the surname Centers continued to be found throughout England. One notable example is Samuel Centers, born in 1725 in Lincolnshire. He was a renowned architect and designed several churches and public buildings in the region.
As the name Centers spread across England, it also adopted various spelling variations, such asCentrs, Centars, and Centors. These variations were often based on regional dialects and pronunciation differences.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Centers
Among Census respondents with the surname Centers, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Black (4.2%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Centers bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Centers surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.4%
- Black or African American4.2%
- Two or more races1.8%
- Hispanic or Latino1.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Centers surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,887 | #13,887 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,174 | 2,174 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.74 | 0.74 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Centers bearers went from 2,174 to 2,174 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #13,887 to #13,887.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Centers
FAQ
Centers surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Centers?
The surname Centers holds position #13,887 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,536 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.74 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Centers surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Centers, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Black (4.2%) and Two or More Races (1.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.