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

Emery, 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 Emery surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Emery in America

Emery is the 1365th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Emery surname appeared 25,839 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Emery.

We can also compare 2010 data for Emery 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 Emery

The surname Emery has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "aimeree," which means "beloved" or "affectionate." This name was initially used as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone with an amiable or loving personality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Emery can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership and taxation in England compiled in 1086 by order of King William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions an individual named Emericus, which is a Latin variation of the name Emery.

During the 12th century, the name Emery appeared in various historical records and documents across Europe. In England, the name was sometimes spelled as "Emery" or "Emmery," while in France, it was commonly written as "Émery" or "Aimery."

Notable individuals with the surname Emery include:

1. Jacques-André Émery (1732-1811), a French Catholic theologian and scholar who served as the Superior General of the Sulpician Fathers.
2. John Emery (1777-1838), an English actor and playwright known for his roles in Shakespearean plays.
3. Sarah Emery (1789-1867), an American missionary and educator who established schools for Native American children in the United States.
4. Ralph Emery (1933-2022), an American television host and personality best known for his work on the long-running country music television program "Nashville Now."
5. Dick Emery (1915-1983), an English comedian and actor who gained popularity for his television comedy series "The Dick Emery Show" in the 1970s.

The surname Emery has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout history. For example, the village of Emery in Somerset, England, is believed to have been named after a prominent family with the Emery surname who resided there in the past.

Overall, the surname Emery has a rich history dating back to medieval times, with its roots firmly planted in France. It has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, actors, missionaries, and entertainers, reflecting the widespread distribution and adoption of this name across different cultures and regions over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Emery

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

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

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

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