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

Comet, 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 Comet surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Comet in America

Comet is the 115639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Comet surname appeared 151 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 Comet.

We can also compare 2010 data for Comet 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 Comet

The surname Comet is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "comete," which means a celestial body with a long tail of gas and dust particles. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a place associated with a comet or had some connection to the astronomical phenomenon.

One of the earliest known references to the Comet surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1275, where a person named William Comet is listed as a taxpayer. The name also appears in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Leicestershire in 1327, with an entry for a John Comet.

In the 14th century, the Comet surname was found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and Oxfordshire. The name was sometimes spelled differently, such as Comete or Cometis, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that time.

One notable person with the Comet surname was John Comet, a prominent merchant from Oxfordshire who lived in the late 15th century. He was involved in the wool trade and held a respected position in his local community.

Another historical figure was Thomas Comet, born in 1544 in Warwickshire. He was a scholar and author who wrote several works on theology and philosophy, including a treatise on the nature of comets, which may have been a nod to his surname.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the parish records of Stratford-upon-Avon, where a family named Comet lived for several generations. One member, William Comet (1620-1687), was a successful farmer and landowner in the area.

Later, in the 18th century, a notable Comet was Robert Comet (1736-1803), a wealthy merchant from London who was involved in the East India Company trade. He amassed a considerable fortune and was known for his philanthropy, establishing several charitable foundations in his name.

The name Comet has also been associated with places in England, such as Comet's Hill in Gloucestershire and Comet's Wood in Warwickshire, though it is unclear whether these locations were named after individuals or derived from the celestial term.

Throughout its history, the surname Comet has maintained a connection to its astronomical origins, serving as a reminder of the fascinating natural phenomena that have captivated people for centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Comet

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

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

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

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