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

Iris, 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 Iris surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Iris in America

Iris is the 78040th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Iris surname appeared 245 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 Iris.

We can also compare 2010 data for Iris 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 Iris

The surname IRIS is of Greek origin and derives from the Greek word "iris", meaning "rainbow". It is believed to have originated as a personal name given to individuals with colorful or unique characteristics before becoming an inherited surname.

In ancient Greek mythology, Iris was the personification of the rainbow and the messenger of the gods. The name gained popularity during the Byzantine era, particularly in regions under Greek cultural influence.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname IRIS can be traced back to medieval times in various parts of Europe, including Italy, France, and the Iberian Peninsula. It is likely that the name was brought to these regions by Greek scholars, merchants, and travelers during the Renaissance period.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname IRIS was Georgios Iris, a 14th-century Greek philosopher and scholar who lived in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). He was renowned for his writings on logic and metaphysics.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the records of the Spanish Inquisition, with several individuals named IRIS being persecuted for their religious beliefs. One notable figure was Juan IRIS, a Converso (converted Jewish) merchant from Seville who was tried and executed in 1559.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname IRIS spread across Europe, with notable individuals including:

1. Antonio IRIS (1610-1684), an Italian painter from Naples known for his biblical scenes and landscapes.
2. Francisco IRIS (1674-1749), a Spanish military officer and explorer who led expeditions in the Americas.
3. Marie-Anne IRIS (1719-1805), a French writer and salonnière who hosted a prominent literary salon in Paris.

In the 19th century, the surname IRIS gained further prominence with individuals such as:

1. Paul IRIS (1829-1887), a French archaeologist and historian who made significant contributions to the study of ancient Roman culture.
2. Lucía IRIS (1858-1924), a Spanish feminist and education reformer who advocated for women's rights and access to education.

Throughout history, the surname IRIS has been associated with various fields, including the arts, sciences, and academia, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Iris

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

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

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

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