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

Firey, 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 Firey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Firey in America

Firey is the 129047th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Firey surname appeared 132 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 Firey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Firey 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 Firey

The surname Firey originated in England during the late medieval period, derived from the Old French word "feu" meaning "fire." It is thought to have been an occupational surname initially given to those who worked as firefighters or tended fires, though it could also refer to someone with a fiery temperament or red hair.

One of the earliest records of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273 as "William le Feure." Variations in spelling were common during this era, with other forms including Feyre, Feuer, and Fyre. The name is also found in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1347, where it appears as "Robert Firyere."

While the Firey surname does not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, it is possible that it evolved from similar-sounding names recorded in that survey, such as Ferede or Ferebraz. Place names like Firsby in Lincolnshire and Feryby in Yorkshire may also have influenced the development of the surname.

Notable individuals with the Firey surname throughout history include:

1. William Firey (c. 1460-1537), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Warden of New College, Oxford.
2. John Firey (1675-1744), a Scottish immigrant to America who settled in Pennsylvania and became a successful merchant.
3. Mary Firey (1819-1892), an English author and women's rights activist, known for her novels and advocacy for educational reform.
4. Charles Firey (1874-1945), an American sociologist and urban theorist, best known for his work on community organization and urban ecology.
5. Thomas Firey (1902-1987), a British journalist and war correspondent who covered World War II for various newspapers and radio stations.

While the Firey surname is not among the most common in English-speaking countries today, it has a rich history spanning centuries and reflecting the diverse occupations and backgrounds of those who have borne it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Firey

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

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

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

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