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

Foody, 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 Foody surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Foody in America

Foody is the 47791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Foody surname appeared 443 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 Foody.

We can also compare 2010 data for Foody 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 Foody

The surname "FOODY" is believed to have originated from the Old English word "foda," meaning "food" or "nourishment." This name is thought to have first emerged in the region of East Anglia, England, during the late Anglo-Saxon period, around the 9th or 10th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Fodi," likely referring to someone who worked in the production or distribution of food.

As the name spread throughout England, it underwent various spelling variations, such as "Fode," "Foode," and "Fude." These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling rules at the time. The modern spelling of "FOODY" is believed to have emerged in the 16th or 17th century.

Among the notable historical figures who bore this surname was Sir John Foody (1540-1612), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. He was instrumental in establishing trade routes with the Americas and played a significant role in the city's economic growth during the Elizabethan era.

Another prominent individual was Elizabeth Foody (1675-1744), a renowned midwife in London. She was widely respected for her expertise and wrote several influential treatises on childbirth and maternal care, which were widely circulated throughout Europe.

In the 19th century, William Foody (1812-1890) was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall. His innovative designs and use of new construction techniques earned him widespread acclaim during the Victorian era.

During the same period, Mary Foody (1837-1914) was a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded several schools for girls in Yorkshire and campaigned tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for women.

Another notable figure was Sir Arthur Foody (1879-1957), a distinguished military officer who served in both World Wars. He was awarded numerous medals for his bravery and leadership, including the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross.

While the surname "FOODY" is not among the most common in modern times, its rich history and connections to various notable individuals across different fields and eras highlight its enduring presence throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Foody

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

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

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

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