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

Humphries, 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 Humphries surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Humphries in America

Humphries is the 121780th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Humphries surname appeared 131 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Humphries.

The history of the last name Humphries

The surname Humpries is rooted in medieval England, tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is a variant of the more common surname Humphries, which itself stems from the Old French personal name Humfrey or the Old Germanic name Hunfrid meaning "peaceful warrior" or "bear cub of peace." These names were introduced to England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066.

The name is notably derived from the old Germanic elements "hun" meaning bear cub and "frid" meaning peace, encapsulating the virtues of strength and tranquility. Early spellings of the surname varied considerably, including Humfrey, Humfries, and Humpheris, reflecting the phonetic spellings used in historical records before the standardization of English orthography.

One of the earliest instances of the name in England is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records a Humfrey de Valtorta as a landholder in Lincolnshire. Moving into the medieval period, variations of the name appear in various tax rolls, legal documents, and church records. For example, a Sir Richard Humffray (alternatively spelled Humfrey or Humphries) was recorded as a landowner in Shropshire in the late 13th century.

Through the centuries, the surname spread across England and into Wales. Among the distinguished individuals bearing this surname was John Humfries, who lived during the late 14th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Herefordshire. His significant contributions to the political landscape of his time are well-documented.

Another notable figure is Admiral Edward Augustus Humfries, born in 1765, who rendered meritorious service in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. His career highlights include participation in key naval battles and notable expeditions.

In the realm of literature and scholarship, Dr. Thomas Humfries, born in 1824, gained renown for his extensive research in Anglo-Saxon history and philology. His works, published in the mid-19th century, are still cited by historians studying the period.

The 19th century also saw figures such as Henry Humfries, an influential industrialist, whose innovations in textile manufacturing significantly contributed to the Industrial Revolution in Britain. He was born in 1837 and became known for his contributions to mechanical weaving processes.

By tracing the surname Humpries through various historical records and notable individuals, one can see how it evolved over centuries, reflecting changes in language, society, and geography. Each iteration of the name connects to a rich tapestry of history stretching back to Anglo-Saxon and Norman roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Humphries

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Humphries 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.

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

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

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