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

Erie, 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 Erie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Erie in America

Erie is the 33196th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Erie surname appeared 689 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Erie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Erie 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 Erie

The surname Erie is of English origin, and it is derived from the Old English word "ea," meaning "river," and the Old Norse word "riki," meaning "kingdom" or "realm." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a river or in a region known for its rivers.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Erie can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Essex and Lincolnshire. One of the earliest documented references to the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "de Eyre."

During the medieval period, the surname Erie was often associated with geographic locations, such as villages or manors. For example, records from the 14th century mention a place called "Erie" in Essex, which may have contributed to the surname's origins.

In the 16th century, the surname Erie appeared in various spellings, including "Eyre," "Eire," and "Eyrie." One notable individual bearing this name was John Erie (c. 1520-1581), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs.

The Erie surname continued to be prevalent in England throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Among the notable individuals with this surname were Sir William Erie (1632-1677), an English politician and member of Parliament, and Sir Thomas Erie (1699-1790), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

During the 19th century, the surname Erie was carried by several individuals who made significant contributions to various fields. One such person was Sir William Erie (1793-1880), an English judge and legal scholar who served as the Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. Another notable figure was Sir Robert Erie (1835-1916), a British civil engineer and architect who designed several notable structures, including the Manchester Town Hall.

In the 20th century, the surname Erie continued to be represented by accomplished individuals, such as Wilfred Erie (1880-1976), a British author and journalist who wrote extensively about the Middle East and Islamic culture.

While the surname Erie has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as a result of migration and cultural exchange. However, the historical origins and significance of this surname remain closely tied to its English heritage and the geographic references that influenced its development.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Erie

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

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

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

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