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

Espey, 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 Espey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Espey in America

Espey is the 22707th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Espey surname appeared 1,129 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 Espey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Espey 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 Espey

The surname "ESPEY" originates from Scotland and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic words "eas" meaning "waterfall" and "peth" meaning "place," indicating that the name was initially associated with individuals who lived near a waterfall or a place with a waterfall.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where Walter de Espey swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The Ragman Rolls were a series of documents that recorded the names of Scottish nobles and landowners who submitted to the English king during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various Scottish records, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a certain John de Espey was mentioned in 1364. These rolls were financial records that documented royal expenditures and income.

During the 16th century, the spelling of the name evolved to its modern form, "ESPEY." One notable person from this era was Sir Alexander Espey (1520-1585), a Scottish nobleman and landowner who played a role in the religious conflicts between Protestants and Catholics in Scotland.

In the 17th century, the name "ESPEY" was associated with the Scottish town of Espeytown, located in Moray, Scotland. The town's name is believed to have been derived from the same Gaelic words that gave rise to the surname.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname "ESPEY" was Sir David Espey (1685-1758), a Scottish merchant and philanthropist. He made significant contributions to the development of Glasgow, Scotland, and was instrumental in establishing the city's first public library.

Another notable figure was Sir William Espey (1760-1842), a Scottish naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He distinguished himself in several battles and was knighted for his bravery and leadership.

In the 19th century, the name "ESPEY" gained prominence in the United States due to Scottish immigration. One notable American with this surname was James Espey (1812-1890), a businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1859 to 1861.

Overall, the surname "ESPEY" has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with connections to various geographical locations, notable individuals, and significant historical events throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Espey

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

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

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

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