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

Furniss, 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 Furniss surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Furniss in America

Furniss is the 26391st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Furniss surname appeared 925 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 Furniss.

We can also compare 2010 data for Furniss 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 Furniss

The surname Furniss originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "furneis," meaning "furnace" or "oven," suggesting that the name may have been initially associated with someone who worked as a baker or in a related trade involving ovens or furnaces.

The name is thought to have emerged in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Derbyshire, where occupational surnames were commonly adopted during the medieval period. Records show that the name was sometimes spelled differently, such as "Furness," "Furnace," or "Furneys," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Furniss can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where a person named "William de Furness" is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have originated as a locational surname, referring to someone from the area of Furness in present-day Cumbria, England.

In the 13th century, the Furniss surname appeared in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire, indicating the presence of families bearing this name in the region. One notable individual from this period was John de Furness, a prominent landowner and benefactor who lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Furniss surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with records indicating individuals bearing this name in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, and other counties. One notable figure from this period was Sir Robert Furniss (1567-1634), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for Scarborough.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Furniss surname became more widespread across England, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in various fields. Notable examples include Thomas Furniss (1753-1828), a renowned engraver and portrait painter, and Harry Furniss (1854-1925), a celebrated caricaturist and illustrator known for his works depicting English society and politics.

Throughout its history, the Furniss surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including clergymen, politicians, artists, and entrepreneurs. While the exact origin and meaning of the name may have evolved over time, it remains a distinctive surname with deep roots in English history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Furniss

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

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

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

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