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

Honesty, 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 Honesty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Honesty in America

Honesty is the 74141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Honesty surname appeared 261 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 Honesty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Honesty 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 Honesty

The surname "HONESTY" is a relatively uncommon name with its origins rooted in the English language. It is believed to have emerged as a descriptive surname during the Middle Ages, specifically in the 14th or 15th century.

One theory suggests that the surname "HONESTY" derived from the Old English word "hōnestǣ," meaning "honor" or "respectability." It was likely bestowed upon individuals known for their upright character, integrity, and adherence to moral principles. As surnames became more widespread, this descriptive term may have been adopted as a hereditary family name.

Another possibility is that "HONESTY" originated as a locational surname, referring to a place name or a geographical feature associated with honesty or truthfulness. However, evidence of such a place name is scarce, and this theory remains speculative.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "HONESTY" can be traced back to the late 16th century. One notable bearer of this name was John Honesty, a merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, England, who lived in the late 1500s and early 1600s. Records show that he owned properties in the village of Barnwood, near Gloucester.

In the 17th century, a Richard Honesty was documented as a resident of the parish of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London, in the year 1635. Additionally, a William Honesty was mentioned in the parish records of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, in 1673.

Moving into the 18th century, the Honesty family had established a presence in various parts of England. Samuel Honesty (1699-1782) was a prominent figure from Yorkshire, known for his involvement in local politics and community affairs.

One of the most notable individuals bearing the surname "HONESTY" was Sir Thomas Honesty (1789-1864), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Napoleonic Wars. He rose through the ranks and was knighted for his bravery and leadership in several pivotal battles.

While not a widespread surname, the Honesty family left its mark across various regions of England, with individuals contributing to various fields, including commerce, politics, and military service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Honesty

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

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

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

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