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

Dart, 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 Dart surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dart in America

Dart is the 9092nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dart surname appeared 3,594 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 Dart.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dart 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 Dart

The surname DART is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "dærtan," which means "to throw or hurl," potentially referring to someone who was skilled in throwing darts or spears.

The name is found in various early records and documents, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Dert." This suggests that the surname was already in use during the medieval period and may have been associated with certain occupations or trades related to archery or hunting.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname DART was John Dart, a landowner mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, England, in the late 14th century. Another notable early bearer of the name was William Dart, a merchant from London who was active in the 15th century and is mentioned in several historical records from that time.

In the 16th century, the DART surname can be found in various parish records and official documents, such as the Subsidy Rolls of 1524, which list individuals like John Dart from Gloucestershire and Thomas Dart from Somerset.

The name DART is also associated with several place names in England, including Dartmouth in Devon, Dartford in Kent, and the River Dart in Devon. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Some notable individuals with the surname DART throughout history include:

1. Valentinus Dart (c. 1600-1652), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.
2. Benjamin Dart (1716-1791), an English engraver and portrait painter who worked in London.
3. John Dart (1805-1884), an English writer and antiquarian who published several works on the history and antiquities of Westmorland and Cumberland.
4. Ralph Dart (1848-1912), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London and other parts of England.
5. Justin Dart, Jr. (1930-2002), an American businessman and prominent advocate for disability rights, who played a key role in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

While the surname DART has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and migration patterns. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it was likely associated with occupations or skills related to archery or hunting.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dart

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

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

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

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