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

Larry, 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 Larry surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Larry in America

Larry is the 5817th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Larry surname appeared 5,942 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 Larry.

We can also compare 2010 data for Larry 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 Larry

The surname Larry has its origins in France, where it emerged in the late 11th century. It is derived from the Old French word "laurier," meaning "laurel tree." This surname was likely given to someone who lived near a laurel tree or who worked with laurel wood.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Larry surname is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry lists a landowner named Ralph de Larry, who held lands in Normandy, France, and later in England.

The Larry surname later spread to other parts of Europe, including England, where it was sometimes spelled as "Lary" or "Larey." In the 13th century, records show a Sir Thomas Larry who was a knight and landowner in Hertfordshire, England.

In Scotland, the Larry surname can be traced back to the 14th century, where it was associated with the village of Larry in Aberdeenshire. One of the earliest recorded Scottish bearers of this surname was John Larry, who lived in Aberdeen in the late 1300s.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the Larry surname. One of the most famous was Sir Walter Larry (1558-1628), an English courtier and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another noteworthy figure was Edward Larry (1670-1717), an Irish philosopher and scientist who made significant contributions to the study of optics and the nature of light. He was a member of the Royal Society and corresponded with Isaac Newton.

In the realm of literature, the Larry surname is associated with the American poet and critic Randall Jarrell (1914-1965), whose full name was Randall Jarrell Larry. He was a prominent figure in the mid-20th century literary scene and won the National Book Award for his poetry collection "The Woman at the Washington Zoo" in 1961.

Other notable individuals with the Larry surname include the British artist John Larry (1903-1980), known for his landscapes and still-life paintings, and the American baseball player Frank Larry (1904-1990), who played for the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1920s and 1930s.

Throughout its history, the Larry surname has maintained a strong presence in various parts of the world, from its French origins to its subsequent spread across Europe and beyond. While the specific origins and meanings may vary, this surname has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, leaving an indelible mark on various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Larry

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

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

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

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