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

Greenhaw, 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 Greenhaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Greenhaw in America

Greenhaw is the 18007th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Greenhaw surname appeared 1,550 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 Greenhaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Greenhaw 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 Greenhaw

The surname Greenhaw is believed to have originated in England, tracing its roots back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from a place called Greenhow, which was likely a small village or hamlet located in one of the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire.

The name itself is composed of two elements: "green" and "haw." The prefix "green" likely referred to a verdant or grassy area, while "haw" was an Old English word meaning a small hill or knoll. Together, these elements suggest that the original Greenhow was a settlement situated on a green hillock or elevated meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, a historical record of tax payments made to the English Crown in the late 12th century. Here, a person named Adam de Grenehowe is mentioned, indicating the presence of the surname in the region during that period.

In the 13th century, variations of the name began to appear in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which document a Robert de Grenehowe in Nottinghamshire. The spelling "Greenhaw" itself first surfaces in the 14th century, with a mention of a John Greenhaw in the Patent Rolls of 1348.

Among the notable historical figures bearing this surname was Sir John Greenhaw (c. 1450-1528), a prominent English knight and landowner during the Tudor period. He served as a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire and was known for his military exploits in the Wars of the Roses.

Another influential individual was Thomas Greenhaw (1572-1642), a Puritan minister who played a significant role in the early settlement of New England. He served as a pastor in several Massachusetts towns and was an advocate for religious freedom and civil liberties.

In the 18th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of James Greenhaw (1725-1797), a British naval officer who distinguished himself in numerous battles during the American Revolutionary War. He rose to the rank of Vice Admiral and was knighted for his service.

Another noteworthy figure was Sarah Greenhaw (1795-1875), a pioneering educator and women's rights advocate from Virginia. She founded one of the first female academies in the state and was a vocal supporter of women's suffrage and education reform.

Lastly, Joseph Greenhaw (1843-1918) was a prominent lawyer and politician from Arkansas. He served as a judge and represented the state in the United States Senate from 1905 to 1909, advocating for various agricultural and economic policies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Greenhaw

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

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

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

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