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

Cloud, 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 Cloud surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cloud in America

Cloud is the 2478th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cloud surname appeared 14,555 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Cloud.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cloud 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 Cloud

The surname Cloud is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English word 'clud' meaning a hill or a rock. The name first appeared in England during the 11th century, around the time of the Norman Conquest. It is believed to have originated in the county of Somerset, which was known for its rocky terrain and rolling hills.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cloud can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as 'Cludd', likely referring to someone who lived near a prominent hill or rock formation.

In the 13th century, the name Cloud was found in various records from the county of Somerset, such as the Assize Rolls of 1268, where a certain William Cloud is mentioned. During this period, the name was often spelled as 'Clud' or 'Clode', reflecting the local dialect and pronunciation.

As the centuries progressed, the spelling of the name evolved, eventually becoming standardized as 'Cloud'. One notable bearer of this surname was Sir John Cloud (1619-1696), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Charles II.

Another significant figure was William Cloud (1776-1834), an American farmer and politician who served as a Representative from Virginia in the United States Congress from 1817 to 1821. He was also a veteran of the War of 1812.

In more recent history, the American singer and songwriter Judy Cloud (1935-2018) gained recognition for her contributions to the folk music scene. She was known for her powerful vocals and socially conscious lyrics.

The surname Cloud has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Cloudsley in Gloucestershire and Cloudshill in Hampshire, both of which likely derived their names from the local geography and the presence of prominent hills or rocky outcroppings.

While the surname Cloud may have originated from humble beginnings, referring to those who lived near notable hills or rocks, it has since grown to encompass a diverse range of individuals from various walks of life, each leaving their mark on history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cloud

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

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

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

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