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

Kearse, 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 Kearse surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kearse in America

Kearse is the 12072nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kearse surname appeared 2,583 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 Kearse.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kearse 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 Kearse

The surname Kearse is believed to have originated in Ireland, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "ciarraidhe," which means "dark-haired" or "black-haired." This suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive name for someone with dark hair.

The name was prominent in County Kerry, located in the southwestern part of Ireland. Historically, the Kearse family was part of the Gaelic nobility and played a significant role in the region's affairs during the medieval period. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle compiled by Irish monks in the 12th century.

In the 16th century, during the Tudor conquest of Ireland, the Kearse family supported the Irish resistance against English rule. This led to the confiscation of their lands and the subsequent dispersal of family members across Ireland and beyond. Some Kearse families sought refuge in other parts of Europe, contributing to the name's spread.

One notable figure from the Kearse family was Tadhg Kearse, a 17th-century Irish poet and historian. Born around 1630, Tadhg Kearse is renowned for his works that documented the history and culture of County Kerry. His writings provide valuable insights into the life and traditions of the region during that era.

Another prominent individual with the Kearse surname was John Kearse, a Scottish-born American naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. Born in 1753, John Kearse played a crucial role in several naval battles against the British and was recognized for his bravery and leadership.

In the 19th century, the Kearse name gained prominence in the United States, with several notable individuals bearing the surname. One such person was James Kearse, a Civil War veteran who fought for the Union Army. Born in 1841, James Kearse participated in several major battles, including the Battle of Gettysburg.

Another notable figure was William Kearse, a successful businessman and philanthropist born in 1865 in New York City. He made significant contributions to various charitable organizations and played a pivotal role in the development of his local community.

Over the centuries, the Kearse surname has evolved to include various spelling variations, such as Kearns, Kearney, and Carney, reflecting the influence of different regions and languages. Despite these variations, the name's roots can be traced back to its Irish origins and the distinct meaning of "dark-haired."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kearse

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

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

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

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