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

Faircloth, 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 Faircloth surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Faircloth in America

Faircloth is the 3971st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Faircloth surname appeared 8,954 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 Faircloth.

We can also compare 2010 data for Faircloth 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 Faircloth

The surname "Faircloth" is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "faeger" meaning "fair" or "beautiful" and "clath" meaning "cloth." The name likely referred to a person who traded or dealt in fine or high-quality cloth.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Huntingdonshire Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a William Fayrcloth is mentioned. The name also appears in various other medieval records, such as the Sussex Subsidy Rolls of 1296, where a John Faircloth is listed.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name was primarily concentrated in the southern counties of England, particularly in Sussex, Surrey, and Kent. It is believed that the name may have originated in these areas, where the textile industry was thriving.

In the 16th century, the name began to spread to other parts of England, and variations in spelling, such as "Fayrcloth" and "Fayrecloth," became more common. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Richard Faircloth, a merchant and philanthropist from London, who lived from 1548 to 1623.

The name continued to be prevalent in England throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, with several notable figures bearing the surname. One such figure was Samuel Faircloth (1629-1691), a Puritan clergyman and author who served as the rector of Yealmpton in Devon.

Another notable bearer of the name was John Faircloth (1758-1829), a successful merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. He was known for his extensive business dealings and philanthropic endeavors.

In the 19th century, the name began to spread to other parts of the world, particularly to North America, as a result of immigration. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the United States was Thomas Faircloth, who was born in North Carolina in 1835.

Throughout its history, the surname "Faircloth" has been associated with various occupations, particularly those related to the textile industry, such as weavers, merchants, and traders. However, it has also been borne by individuals from various other walks of life, including clergymen, landowners, and business leaders.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Faircloth

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

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

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

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