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

Dresser, 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 Dresser surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dresser in America

Dresser is the 10114th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dresser surname appeared 3,186 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 Dresser.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dresser 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 Dresser

The surname Dresser is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the mid-16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "dresseur," meaning "one who prepares or arranges." This occupational surname was likely given to individuals involved in tasks such as setting tables or arranging furniture.

One of the earliest known records of the surname Dresser can be found in the parish registers of Chorley, Lancashire, where a John Dresser was documented in 1588. Additionally, the name appears in the Hearth Tax Rolls of Yorkshire in 1672, suggesting its presence in that region as well.

In the 17th century, the name Dresser was associated with the village of Ecclesfield, near Sheffield, Yorkshire. This connection is evident in the records of the Ecclesfield Parish Register, which mentions several individuals bearing the surname Dresser during that period.

A notable early figure with the surname Dresser was John Dresser (c. 1599-1668), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Ripon in the 1640s. Another prominent individual was Henry Edes Dresser (1838-1915), an English businessman and ornithologist known for his contributions to the study of birds.

Other notable individuals with the surname Dresser include Christopher Dresser (1834-1904), an influential English designer and author who played a significant role in the development of the Aesthetic Movement, and Annetta Seabury Dresser (1848-1935), an American author and lecturer who was a prominent figure in the New Thought movement.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Dresser can be found in the 17th century, with Richard Dresser, who was among the first settlers of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1637.

Throughout its history, the surname Dresser has been associated with various occupations and professions, reflecting its origins as an occupational surname. While the name may have evolved over time, its roots can be traced back to the skilled trades and craftsmanship of those who arranged and prepared items for others.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dresser

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

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

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

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