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

Deere, 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 Deere surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Deere in America

Deere is the 15238th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Deere surname appeared 1,930 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 Deere.

We can also compare 2010 data for Deere 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 Deere

The surname Deere is of English origin, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "deor," meaning "deer" or "wild animal," suggesting that the name's bearers may have been foresters, hunters, or resided near wooded areas where deer roamed.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various counties across England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One of the earliest documented references is found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which mentions a Richard le Dere in Cambridgeshire.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Dere, Deere, and Deer, reflecting the linguistic variations of the time. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a John Dere in Leicestershire, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 record a William Dere in Yorkshire.

The name Deere has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One prominent figure was Sir John Deere, born in 1481 in Lincolnshire, who served as a member of Parliament and held the position of Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in 1535.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Ralph Deere, born in 1623 in Kent, who was a respected lawyer and served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1684 to 1688.

In the 17th century, the name Deere gained prominence in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Thomas Deere, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and later settled in Maryland.

The Deere family name is also associated with the renowned John Deere, born in 1804 in Vermont. He was a skilled blacksmith and inventor, known for revolutionizing the agricultural industry with his innovative steel plow designs, which led to the establishment of the iconic John Deere Company.

In the 19th century, the name Deere was found in various parts of England, with concentrations in counties such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. Notable individuals from this period include Sir Joseph Deere, born in 1828 in Lincolnshire, who was a prominent politician and industrialist.

While the surname Deere is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the English countryside and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Deere

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

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

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

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