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

Maggs, 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 Maggs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Maggs in America

Maggs is the 30889th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Maggs surname appeared 753 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 Maggs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Maggs 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 Maggs

The surname Maggs has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "magga," which means "maggot" or "grub." This nickname was likely given to someone who was considered small or insignificant, perhaps a young boy or a person of diminutive stature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Maggs can be found in the parish records of St. Michael's Church in Coventry, Warwickshire, where a certain Thomas Maggs was christened in 1592. The name also appears in various documents from the 17th and 18th centuries, indicating its prevalence in the Midlands region of England.

In the late 17th century, a family by the name of Maggs settled in the village of Stratton St. Margaret in Wiltshire. This family produced several notable individuals, including John Maggs (1690-1756), a respected farmer and landowner, and his son, William Maggs (1719-1794), who served as the village constable.

Another prominent figure bearing the Maggs surname was Sir John Maggs (1801-1879), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Bristol. He made his fortune in the West Indies trade and later became a Member of Parliament for Newtown, Isle of Wight. Sir John Maggs was also a generous benefactor, contributing to the construction of several churches and schools in the Bristol area.

In the literary world, one cannot overlook the contributions of Charles Maggs (1855-1931), a renowned antiquarian bookseller from London. His bookshop, Maggs Bros. Ltd., was a favorite haunt of bibliophiles and collectors from around the globe. Charles Maggs was also a prolific writer, publishing numerous catalogs and articles on rare books and manuscripts.

Another notable figure was Sir John Maggs (1865-1942), a British Army officer who served with distinction in the Second Boer War and World War I. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

While the surname Maggs may have originated from a humble nickname, it has been borne by individuals who have made their mark in various fields, from agriculture and politics to literature and military service. Despite its modest beginnings, the name Maggs has become a part of the rich tapestry of English history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Maggs

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

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

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

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