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

Irons, 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 Irons surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Irons in America

Irons is the 4804th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Irons surname appeared 7,358 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Irons.

We can also compare 2010 data for Irons 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 Irons

The surname Irons has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "iren," which means "iron." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who worked as blacksmiths or ironworkers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Irons can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where it is listed as "Irenmonger." This variation of the name further reinforces its connection to the iron trade. Additionally, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where it is spelled as "Iremonger."

During the medieval period, the name Irons was particularly prevalent in the counties of Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. It is believed that some of the earliest bearers of the name may have lived in or near the village of Irons Acton, located in Gloucestershire.

Historically, the name Irons has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was John Irons, a prominent English merchant who lived in the 15th century. Records indicate that he was involved in trade with the Netherlands and played a significant role in the wool industry.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir George Irons (1585-1672), an English politician and landowner from Hertfordshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of St Albans and was known for his support of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, John Irons (1739-1789) was a British naval officer who gained recognition for his service during the American Revolutionary War. He participated in several notable battles, including the Battle of the Chesapeake in 1781.

The name Irons has also been associated with literary figures, such as Ralph Irons (1595-1671), an English writer and clergyman who authored several religious works during the 17th century.

Additionally, the Irons surname has been linked to place names in England, such as Irons Cross in Gloucestershire and Irons Green in Essex. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the Irons surname who lived or owned land in those areas.

Overall, the surname Irons has a rich history rooted in the iron trade and has been carried by notable individuals across various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Irons

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

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

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

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