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

Dyer, 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 Dyer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dyer in America

Dyer is the 742nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dyer surname appeared 47,170 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 16 people would have the surname Dyer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dyer 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 Dyer

The surname DYER originated in England and has its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "deogere," which means one who dyes cloth or other materials. The name is closely associated with the medieval textile industry, particularly in areas where wool production and dyeing were prominent trades.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname DYER can be found in various historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, which mention a person named Robert le Deyere. The Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273 also reference a John le Deyere. These early records indicate the surname's widespread use in medieval England.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname DYER was Sir James Dyer (c. 1512-1582), an English judge and Speaker of the House of Commons during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Sir Edward Dyer (1543-1607), an English courtier, poet, and diplomat who served under both Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.

In the 17th century, William Dyer (c. 1627-1676) gained notoriety as a Puritan settler in colonial America. He was executed in Boston for defying the Massachusetts Bay Colony's laws against Quakerism, becoming one of the four Quakers known as the Boston Martyrs.

The name DYER also has connections to various place names in England, such as Dyer's Green in Hertfordshire, Dyer's Farm in Oxfordshire, and Dyer's Hill in Surrey. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname DYER who lived or owned property in these areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname DYER include Sir Thomas Dyer (1804-1888), an English lawyer and judge; John Dyer (1699-1758), an English poet and painter; and George Dyer (1755-1841), an English writer and critic who was a close friend of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Throughout its history, the surname DYER has been closely tied to the textile industry and has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including judges, poets, settlers, and craftsmen. Its enduring presence in various historical records and its association with place names reflect its deep roots in English history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dyer

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

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

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

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