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

Kearce, 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 Kearce surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kearce in America

Kearce is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kearce surname appeared 103 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 Kearce.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kearce 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 Kearce

The surname Kearce has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "cerse," which meant "cress" or "watercress." This suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone who lived near a watercress bed or who was involved in the cultivation or trade of the plant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kearce can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Kearce in the county of Berkshire.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spellings, including Kearce, Kerse, Kearsey, and Kersey. These variations reflect the regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling conventions during the Middle Ages.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named William Kearce was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls, a census-like record of landholdings and tenures in England. He was recorded as holding land in the village of Kersey, which may have contributed to the spelling variation Kersey.

Another historical reference can be found in the 15th century, when a John Kearce was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire. These rolls documented legal proceedings and transactions related to land tenure.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert Kearce, born in 1542 in Oxfordshire. He was a prominent landowner and served as a local magistrate during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, a notable figure named Thomas Kearce (1619-1678) was a Puritan minister and author who played a role in the English Civil War. He was a vocal opponent of the monarchy and supported the parliamentarian cause.

During the 18th century, the Kearce surname was associated with the village of Kersey in Suffolk, which was known for its wool and cloth trade. The name Kersey cloth, a type of coarse, narrow woolen fabric, is believed to have originated from this location.

In the 19th century, a notable individual named John Kearce (1812-1888) was a successful industrialist and entrepreneur in the textile industry. He established several mills in Lancashire and played a significant role in the development of the region's textile manufacturing.

Throughout history, the surname Kearce has been present in various regions of England, with concentrations in counties such as Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Yorkshire, and Suffolk. While not a widely prevalent name, it has maintained a presence in the historical records and has contributed to the rich tapestry of English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kearce

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

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

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

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