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

Fears, 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 Fears surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fears in America

Fears is the 7027th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fears surname appeared 4,762 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 Fears.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fears 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 Fears

The surname Fears is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "fær," which means "danger" or "calamity." It is believed to have originated as a descriptive surname, given to someone who lived in a perilous area or was known for their fearless nature.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a William le Fere, which is likely an early spelling variation of the name.

During the medieval period, the name Fears appeared in several historical documents, including the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1301, where a John Fere is mentioned. The Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327 also record a Robert le Fere.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Fears, a prominent English soldier who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. He was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield and served under King Edward IV.

In the 16th century, the name Fears was associated with several places in England, such as Fearshill in County Durham and Fearswood in Staffordshire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, reflecting the presence of Fears families in those areas.

Another significant figure was Robert Fears, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Gloucestershire during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was known for his extensive estates and involvement in local affairs.

In the 18th century, the name Fears gained further prominence with the birth of William Fears (1718-1796), a renowned English clergyman and scholar. He served as the Rector of Staines in Middlesex and was respected for his theological writings and sermons.

One of the most famous bearers of the Fears surname was the English novelist and playwright, Mary Fears (1803-1871). She was a prolific writer and is best known for her novels depicting the lives of the upper classes in Victorian England.

The 19th century also saw the birth of Sir Edward Fears (1832-1911), an influential British businessman and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the textile industry and was knighted for his charitable contributions to various causes.

Throughout its history, the surname Fears has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including soldiers, clergymen, writers, and industrialists, all contributing to the rich tapestry of English heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fears

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

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

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

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