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

Embree, 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 Embree surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Embree in America

Embree is the 13109th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Embree surname appeared 2,338 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 Embree.

We can also compare 2010 data for Embree 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 Embree

The surname Embree has its origins in England, with the earliest known recordings dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "embry" or "embury," which referred to a meadow or field surrounded by a bank or raised enclosure. This suggests that the name may have originated as a topographic name, describing a person who lived near or worked on such a piece of land.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a William de Embury is listed. The prefix "de" indicates that the name at that time was still being used as a locational surname, referring to a specific place.

In the 14th century, the spelling of the name began to evolve, with variants such as Embury, Embree, and Embrey appearing in various records. This was a common occurrence during that period, as spelling conventions were not yet standardized.

The Embree family appears to have been particularly well-established in the county of Warwickshire, with several individuals bearing the name mentioned in various historical records from the 15th and 16th centuries. One notable example is John Embree, who was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1542 and served as a local magistrate.

As the name spread across England, it also found its way into various place names, such as Embree Farm in Gloucestershire and Embree Hill in Wiltshire. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname Embree who once lived or held land in those areas.

In the 17th century, the Embree surname gained further prominence with the birth of William Embree (1623-1697), a renowned English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of the Gregorian calendar.

Other notable individuals with the surname Embree include:

1. John Embree (1785-1864), an American Quaker and abolitionist who advocated for the education of enslaved people.
2. Etta Semple Embree (1881-1949), an American educator and author who founded the Embree Memorial Lectures at Columbia University.
3. Edwin Rogers Embree (1883-1950), an American author and philanthropist who served as the president of the Julius Rosenwald Fund.
4. Mary Embree (1898-1979), an American actress and singer who appeared in several Broadway productions and Hollywood films.
5. James Embree (1927-2019), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Embree Construction Group in Arizona.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Embree

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

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

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

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