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

Cheshire, 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 Cheshire surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cheshire in America

Cheshire is the 10334th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cheshire surname appeared 3,117 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 Cheshire.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cheshire 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 Cheshire

The surname Cheshire originated in England, specifically in the county of Cheshire, which is located in the northwest region of the country. The name can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period, with its roots stemming from the Old English words "cēse" and "scir," which together translate to "cheese shire" or "the shire where cheese was produced."

The earliest known appearance of the name Cheshire can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings and properties throughout England and parts of Wales. This document contained references to individuals residing in the county of Cheshire, indicating the surname's existence during the 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Cheshire gained prominence among families residing within the county and its surrounding areas. One notable figure was Sir John Cheshire, a Knight of the Garter who lived in the late 14th century and served under King Richard II. Another early bearer of the name was William Cheshire, a merchant and alderman in the city of Chester during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Cheshire was further solidified, with records showing its presence in various parts of England. One prominent individual was Sir John Cheshire (1545-1617), a Member of Parliament and landowner from Halton, Cheshire. Another notable figure was Richard Cheshire (1569-1632), a clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Cheshire.

As time progressed, the surname Cheshire spread beyond its county of origin, with families bearing the name establishing roots in other parts of England and eventually migrating to other parts of the world. Notable individuals include John Cheshire (1613-1669), a merchant and colonist who settled in Virginia, and Sir Bevil Cheshire (1645-1703), a military officer and Member of Parliament from Devonshire.

The name Cheshire has also been associated with various place names within the county, such as Cheshire Cheese Farm, Cheshire Cat Inn, and Cheshire Cheese Cave, reflecting the region's historical connection to cheese production and dairy farming.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cheshire

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

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

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

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