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

Dreamer, 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 Dreamer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dreamer in America

Dreamer is the 120187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dreamer surname appeared 144 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 Dreamer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dreamer 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 Dreamer

The surname DREAMER is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely between the 12th and 15th centuries. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "drēman," which means "to dream" or "to rejoice." The name may have been given as a descriptive surname to someone who was known for their vivid dreams or joyful disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DREAMER surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a person named Robert le Dremer is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Dremer," suggests that the name may have originated from the same root word but underwent different phonetic changes over time.

In the 13th century, the DREAMER surname appeared in various records across England, including the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1281, where a William le Dremere is listed. This entry provides evidence of another early spelling variation, "Dremere," which further reinforces the connection to the Old English word "drēman."

During the 14th century, the surname DREAMER became more widespread across different regions of England. In the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, a John le Dremere is recorded, while in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332, a Thomas le Dremer is mentioned.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the DREAMER surname was John Dreamer, a prominent merchant and alderman who lived in London during the late 14th century. He is mentioned in various records from the City of London, including the Letter Books, which document his involvement in civic affairs and trade.

Another historically significant figure with the DREAMER surname was Robert Dreamer, a clergyman who lived in the 16th century. He served as the Rector of Stratford-upon-Avon from 1539 to 1561 and is known for his connections to the famous playwright William Shakespeare, as Stratford-upon-Avon was Shakespeare's birthplace.

In the 17th century, the DREAMER surname can be found in various parish records across England, including baptisms, marriages, and burials. One notable example is the baptism of William Dreamer in 1622 at St. Dunstan's Church in Stepney, London.

As the centuries progressed, the spelling of the DREAMER surname became more standardized, but variations persisted in certain regions. For example, in the 18th century, the spelling "Dreemer" was common in parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Throughout history, the DREAMER surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, from merchants and clergy to artists and writers. One notable bearer of the name was Thomas Dreamer, an English poet and playwright who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His works included plays such as "The Rambling Justice" and "The Modish Couple."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dreamer

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

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

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

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