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

Files, 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 Files surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Files in America

Files is the 8761st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Files surname appeared 3,744 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Files.

We can also compare 2010 data for Files 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 Files

The surname Files originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "fila," meaning a file or workman. It is likely that the name was initially an occupational surname, given to individuals who worked as file makers or metalworkers.

In medieval times, the Files surname was prevalent in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a person named William le Filer was mentioned.

As time passed, the surname underwent various spelling variations, such as Filer, Filer, Filier, and Fyles. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during the Middle Ages.

The Files surname has been documented in several historical records and manuscripts throughout the centuries. For instance, in the 14th century, a person named John Fyles was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire. Additionally, the name appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where a certain Thomas Filer was listed.

One notable individual who bore the surname Files was Sir John Files, a prominent English merchant and politician who lived during the 16th century (c. 1520-1590). He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1588 and was a Member of Parliament for the City of London.

Another individual of historical significance was William Files (c. 1565-1634), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Ely from 1628 until his death. He was known for his contributions to theological literature and his involvement in the translation of the King James Bible.

The Files surname also found its way into literature. In the 17th century, the English playwright and poet Thomas Middleton (c. 1580-1627) included a character named Master Files in his play "A Mad World, My Masters."

During the 18th century, the Files surname continued to be present in various parts of England. One notable person was Richard Files (c. 1720-1790), a successful merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire.

As the centuries passed, the Files surname spread beyond England and became more widespread. In the 19th century, a prominent American bearing the surname was Joseph Files (1823-1899), a politician and lawyer from Missouri who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1873 to 1883.

Throughout history, the surname Files has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting its enduring legacy and significance across different regions and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Files

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

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

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

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