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

Glass, 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 Glass surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Glass in America

Glass is the 823rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Glass surname appeared 41,802 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 14 people would have the surname Glass.

We can also compare 2010 data for Glass 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 Glass

The surname Glass has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'glaes', meaning 'glass'. This suggests that the name was initially an occupational surname, given to those who worked as glassmakers or sellers of glass products.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Glass can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, dated 1195, which mention a William le Glaswrith. The 'le' prefix was commonly used in medieval times to denote an occupation or place of origin.

In the 13th century, the name Glass appeared in various forms, such as Glas, Glase, and Glasse, reflecting the variations in spelling during that era. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of scribes.

The Hundred Rolls of 1273 recorded the name Glasse in Oxfordshire, while the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296 listed a John Glas. These early records provide insight into the geographical distribution of the name across different parts of England.

One notable figure in English history bearing the surname Glass was John Glass, a renowned clergyman and scholar who lived from 1509 to 1572. He served as a chaplain to King Edward VI and was appointed as the first Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge in 1554.

Another prominent individual was Thomas Glass, a merchant and explorer from London, who was born in the late 16th century. He is known for his travels to India and the East Indies, where he established trading relationships and contributed to the expansion of British trade in the region.

In the 17th century, the Glass surname gained further recognition with the birth of John Glass (1616-1673), a Scottish writer and preacher who was known for his nonconformist religious views and writings. His works, such as "The Life of Mr. Robert Bruce" and "The Doctrine of the Inward Reign of Christ," influenced the religious landscape of his time.

The 18th century saw the emergence of Francis Glass (1710-1786), a renowned English poet and satirist. He was known for his witty and satirical works, including "An Epistle to the Revd. Mr. Thomas Duncombe" and "The Beginning, Progress, and End of the Late Malbrouck Campaign."

In the field of science, Samuel Glassius (1653-1711), a German Lutheran theologian and scholar, made significant contributions to biblical studies and philology. His works, such as "Philologia Sacra" and "Grammatica Sacra," were widely respected and influential in their time.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals bearing the surname Glass, spanning various fields and time periods. While the name's origins can be traced back to occupational roots in medieval England, it has since been carried by notable figures across different disciplines and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Glass

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

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

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

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