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

Courts, 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 Courts surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Courts in America

Courts is the 17586th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Courts surname appeared 1,598 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 Courts.

We can also compare 2010 data for Courts 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 Courts

The surname Courts is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from various places called Court, such as those in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Wiltshire. The name itself is derived from the Old English word "cort," meaning an enclosed yard or courtyard.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Courts is found in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1273, where it appears as "de la Courte." This suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive term to indicate someone who lived near or worked in a courtyard or manor house.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several references to places with the name "Court," such as Court Farm in Somerset and Court Green in Middlesex. These early records provide evidence of the name's longstanding presence in various parts of England.

Notable individuals with the surname Courts include Richard Courts (c. 1575-1638), an English clergyman and author who served as the Dean of Elgin in Scotland. Another notable figure is William Courts (1654-1722), a prominent English architect who worked on several significant buildings, including the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Marlborough House in London.

In the 16th century, there are records of a family named Courts residing in Gloucestershire. One member, John Courts (1516-1584), was a prominent merchant and landowner in the area, known for his involvement in local affairs and charitable endeavors.

Another individual of note is Sir William Courts (1835-1912), a British engineer and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the railway system in India during the late 19th century. He was knighted for his contributions to the country's infrastructure.

The surname Courts has also been found in historical records from other parts of the world, such as the United States and Australia, likely due to emigration from England in the 17th and 18th centuries. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it was initially used as a locational name associated with courtyards and manors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Courts

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

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

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

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