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

Handsome, 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 Handsome surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Handsome in America

Handsome is the 94311th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Handsome surname appeared 194 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 Handsome.

We can also compare 2010 data for Handsome 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 Handsome

The surname "Handsome" is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is thought to be a descriptive name, derived from the Old English word "handsum," which meant "easy to handle" or "convenient." Over time, the meaning of the word evolved to refer to physical attractiveness or appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Handsome" can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, where a Thomas Handsam is mentioned. This early spelling variation suggests that the name was in use at least by the early 14th century.

In the 15th century, the surname appears in various records, such as the York Freemen's Register of 1472, which includes an entry for a John Handesom. The Protestation Returns of 1642 also lists several individuals with the surname "Handsome," including Robert Handsome from Lincolnshire and William Handsome from Essex.

Historically, the surname "Handsome" was not uncommon, though it was more prevalent in certain regions of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Essex. It is possible that the name may have originated as a nickname or a descriptive term for an individual with a striking or attractive appearance.

One notable individual with the surname "Handsome" was Sir William Handsome (c. 1550-1630), an English courtier and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as a member of the Queen's Bodyguard and was knighted in 1603.

Another notable figure was John Handsome (1684-1768), a renowned English architect who was responsible for the design of several significant buildings in London, including the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the St. George's Church in Bloomsbury.

In the 18th century, the name appears in various parish records, such as the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London, which include entries for several individuals with the surname "Handsome," including James Handsome (born 1721) and Elizabeth Handsome (born 1731).

Other notable individuals with the surname "Handsome" include Thomas Handsome (1792-1864), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and William Handsome (1810-1882), an English author and poet whose works were widely published during the Victorian era.

While the surname "Handsome" may have originated as a descriptive term or nickname, it eventually became an established hereditary surname passed down through generations. Over time, the name has spread to various parts of the world, though its origins can be traced back to medieval England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Handsome

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

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

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

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