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

Chears, 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 Chears surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chears in America

Chears is the 76768th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chears surname appeared 250 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 Chears.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chears 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 Chears

The surname CHEARS is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from an Old English word meaning "dwelling place" or "homestead," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a particular area or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CHEARS can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and property compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name had already established itself in England by the late 11th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name CHEARS appeared in various historical records and documents, often with slight variations in spelling, such as Cheares, Cheeres, or Cheres. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling at the time.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname CHEARS over the centuries. One of the earliest was Sir Robert CHEARS (c. 1280 - 1349), a prominent landowner and knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Another was William CHEARS (1562 - 1630), a merchant and shipping magnate who played a significant role in the English colonization of the Americas.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name CHEARS was closely associated with several villages and towns in various parts of England, including Chearsley in Buckinghamshire and Chearsley Green in Oxfordshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Other notable individuals with the surname CHEARS include:

1. John CHEARS (1725 - 1803), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War.
2. Mary CHEARS (1790 - 1867), a noted author and poet from Yorkshire.
3. Thomas CHEARS (1815 - 1892), a prominent industrialist and founder of the CHEARS Manufacturing Company in Manchester.
4. Elizabeth CHEARS (1845 - 1920), a social reformer and advocate for women's rights.
5. Samuel CHEARS (1878 - 1945), a renowned architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings in London.

While the surname CHEARS may not be as common today as it once was, it holds a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period in England, with connections to various place names, notable individuals, and historical events.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chears

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

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

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

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