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

Emory, 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 Emory surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Emory in America

Emory is the 6075th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Emory surname appeared 5,641 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Emory.

We can also compare 2010 data for Emory 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 Emory

The surname Emory is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Old English words "eamor" or "aemor," which means "brave" or "industrious." This name was originally a descriptive nickname given to someone who exhibited such qualities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Emory can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Almericus de Eamor, which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the surname.

During the 13th century, the name Emory became more prevalent in various counties across England, particularly in counties like Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire. Historical records from this period often showcase variations like Amory, Amorey, and Emorey.

In the 14th century, the name Emory was associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Sir John Emory (c. 1300 - 1376), a prominent knight and landowner from Northamptonshire. Another was William Emory (c. 1330 - 1395), a respected cleric and scholar who served as the Chancellor of the University of Oxford.

The 16th century saw the emergence of Emory as a place name, with the village of Emory in Somerset being one of the earliest examples. This village likely derived its name from an individual bearing the surname Emory who owned land or had influence in the area.

In the 17th century, the name Emory gained further recognition with individuals like Robert Emory (1595 - 1670), a successful merchant and ship owner from London. Another notable figure was John Emory (1620 - 1687), a Puritan minister and author who played a significant role in the religious life of colonial New England.

The 18th century brought forth figures like Ebenezer Emory (1720 - 1795), a prominent American Methodist preacher and author, and Robert Emory (1765 - 1833), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars.

As the centuries progressed, the Emory surname continued to be associated with accomplished individuals across various fields, including academics, military leaders, and artists. Some examples include Frederic Emory (1822 - 1903), an American artist renowned for his landscape paintings, and John Emory (1789 - 1835), a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the namesake of Emory University in Georgia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Emory

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

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

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

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