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

Embry, 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 Embry surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Embry in America

Embry is the 4092nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Embry surname appeared 8,675 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Embry.

We can also compare 2010 data for Embry 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 Embry

The surname Embry has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "embrier," meaning "to embrace" or "to envelop." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person's occupation or role, perhaps someone who worked with fabrics or clothing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Embry appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named William Embry is mentioned. These rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, indicating that the name was already established by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname Embry can be found in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a Robert Embry. During this period, the name was often spelled as "Embury" or "Emebury," reflecting the variations in spelling common in medieval times.

The Embry surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir Richard Embry, a member of the English gentry who lived in the 14th century. He was a landowner in Warwickshire and served as a knight during the reign of Edward III.

In the 16th century, the name appears in church records, such as the baptismal register of St. Mary's Church in Olney, Buckinghamshire, where a child named John Embry was baptized in 1564.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a man named Thomas Embry fought on the Parliamentarian side against King Charles I. He was a captain in the New Model Army and participated in several battles, including the decisive Battle of Naseby in 1645.

Another notable figure was Sir John Embry, a prominent merchant and politician who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Southwark and was involved in trade with the British colonies in North America.

In the 19th century, a botanist named Mary Embry (1823-1901) made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the American West. She was one of the first female botanists to explore regions like Utah and Nevada, collecting and documenting numerous plant specimens.

The Embry surname has also been associated with several places in England, such as Embry Hill in Worcestershire and Embry Farm in Oxfordshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

While the origins of the Embry surname can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America and Australia, through migration and immigration patterns.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Embry

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

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

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

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