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

Hursey, 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 Hursey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hursey in America

Hursey is the 16247th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hursey surname appeared 1,777 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 Hursey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hursey 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 Hursey

The surname Hursey has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "hors" and "ey," meaning "horse" and "island" respectively. This suggests that the name may have originated from a location or settlement associated with horses or horse breeding.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk from the year 1188, where it appears as "Horseye." This indicates that the name was present in the county of Norfolk during the late 12th century.

Throughout the medieval period, various spellings of the name emerged, such as "Horsey," "Horsaye," and "Horsie." These variations reflect the fluid nature of English spelling during that time and the regional differences in pronunciation.

In the 16th century, records show the name appearing in the form "Hursey" in several county histories and parish registers across England. It is believed that this spelling became more prevalent as a result of regional dialects and the gradual evolution of the English language.

One notable individual bearing the Hursey surname was Robert Hursey, a yeoman farmer who lived in the village of Weston Favell, Northamptonshire, in the late 16th century. His will, dated 1591, provides valuable insights into the life and times of the Hursey family during the Elizabethan era.

Another prominent figure was Sir John Hursey, a military commander who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He was knighted for his bravery in the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and later participated in the siege of Calais.

In the 17th century, the Hursey name can be found in various records across England, including the Parish Registers of Oxfordshire, where a William Hursey was recorded as being married in 1632.

During the 18th century, a notable Hursey was Thomas Hursey, born in 1712 in Lincolnshire. He was a renowned clockmaker and is credited with the creation of several intricate timepieces that are now housed in various museums and private collections.

In the 19th century, one of the most prominent individuals with the Hursey surname was Reverend Henry Hursey, born in 1802 in Devon. He was a respected clergyman and author, known for his sermons and writings on theological subjects.

It is worth noting that while the Hursey surname has been present throughout various regions of England for centuries, its origins can be traced back to the island or coastal areas associated with horses, as suggested by its linguistic roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hursey

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

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

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

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