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

Faw, 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 Faw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Faw in America

Faw is the 20792nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Faw surname appeared 1,270 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 Faw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Faw 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 Faw

The surname "Faw" has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon regions of England, dating back to the early medieval period around the 6th century AD. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "fah," which means "variegated" or "multi-colored," suggesting that the name may have been originally given as a descriptive nickname to someone with distinctive hair or complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a individual named "Fawc" is listed as a landowner in the county of Oxfordshire. This early spelling variation highlights the fluidity of naming conventions during that time period.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling changes, with variations such as "Faw," "Fawe," and "Fawes" appearing in historical records. These variations reflect the influence of regional dialects and the inconsistencies in written language before standardized spelling became more widespread.

Notably, the name is associated with several prominent figures throughout history. One such individual was Sir John Faw (1532-1609), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the local government of Berkshire and was known for his involvement in various civic affairs.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Faw (1676-1742), a renowned clockmaker and inventor from London. His innovative designs and contributions to the field of horology earned him recognition among his contemporaries and helped shape the development of timekeeping technology.

In the literary realm, the name is associated with the 18th-century poet and playwright John Faw (1720-1781), whose works explored themes of love, nature, and social commentary. His poetic talents were celebrated during his lifetime, and several of his plays were performed on the London stage.

Moving into the 19th century, Thomas Faw (1802-1879) was a prominent industrialist and entrepreneur from Birmingham, England. He played a pivotal role in the development of the local steel industry and was known for his philanthropic efforts, establishing several educational institutions and charitable organizations in the region.

Lastly, in the realm of academia, Mary Faw (1870-1947) was a pioneering scholar and one of the first women to earn a doctorate in philosophy from Yale University. Her groundbreaking research in the field of psychology paved the way for future generations of female scholars and contributed significantly to the advancement of the discipline.

While the surname "Faw" may not be among the most common surnames today, its rich history and the accomplishments of its bearers have left an indelible mark on various aspects of society, ranging from literature and the arts to industry and academia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Faw

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

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

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

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