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

Comfort, 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 Comfort surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Comfort in America

Comfort is the 9155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Comfort surname appeared 3,564 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 Comfort.

We can also compare 2010 data for Comfort 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 Comfort

The surname "Comfort" is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "confort," which means "comfort" or "consolation." This word, in turn, traces its roots back to the Latin word "confortare," meaning "to strengthen greatly."

The name "Comfort" is believed to have been used initially as a nickname or a descriptive name, possibly referring to someone who provided comfort or consolation to others in times of distress or hardship. It is likely that the name was first adopted by individuals who were known for their compassionate and supportive nature within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Comfort" can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, England, from the year 1327, which mentions a person named "William Comfort." This suggests that the name was already in use during the early 14th century in England.

The name "Comfort" has been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Compton and Comberford. It is possible that some instances of the surname may have originated from these place names or their older spellings, reflecting the residence or origin of the individuals who bore the name.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname "Comfort" throughout history. One example is William Comfort (1742-1825), an American Quaker and philanthropist who was instrumental in establishing the first anti-slavery societies in the United States. Another notable figure is John Comfort (1835-1905), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Surgeons.

Other individuals with the surname "Comfort" include Sir John Comfort (1789-1855), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and Benjamin Comfort (1838-1909), an American landscape painter known for his depictions of the Hudson River Valley.

It is worth mentioning that the surname "Comfort" has also been recorded with various spellings throughout history, such as Comforth, Comforte, and Comfert, reflecting the evolution of language and local variations in pronunciation and spelling.

Overall, the surname "Comfort" has a rich historical background, rooted in the English language and culture, and has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Comfort

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

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

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

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