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

Kersey, 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 Kersey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kersey in America

Kersey is the 4189th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kersey surname appeared 8,459 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Kersey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kersey 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 Kersey

The surname Kersey has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cirse" and "eg," which together translate to "cherry island." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with a place where cherry trees grew abundantly on an island or near a river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kersey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Kerseia," referring to a settlement in Suffolk, England. This village likely gave rise to the surname, with individuals adopting it as a means of identifying their place of origin.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named John de Kersey was mentioned in historical records from Suffolk. He was a landowner and played a role in local affairs during that time. Another early bearer of the name was William de Kersey, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273.

During the 16th century, the surname Kersey gained prominence through the work of John Kersey, an English mathematician and writer born in 1616. He authored several influential works, including "The Elements of Algebra" and "The Elements of Mathematical Art." His contributions to the field of mathematics and education were significant.

In the literary realm, Thomas Kersey, born in 1669, was an English poet and playwright. He is best known for his satirical works, including "The Honourable Frolic" and "The Smock-Alley Fair." His witty and often biting commentary on contemporary society earned him recognition among his peers.

Another notable figure was Sir John Kersey, a British naval officer who lived from 1724 to 1801. He served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and played a crucial role in several important naval battles, earning him respect and admiration for his bravery and leadership.

Over the centuries, the Kersey surname has been associated with various places in England, including Kersey in Suffolk, as well as settlements in Essex, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire, among others. Variations in spelling, such as Kersie, Kersy, and Kersee, were also present throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kersey

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

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

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

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