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

Myers, 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 Myers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Myers in America

Myers is the 96th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Myers surname appeared 229,895 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 78 people would have the surname Myers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Myers 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 Myers

The surname Myers is of Anglo-German origin, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English "myres," meaning marshes or bogs, suggesting that the name likely originated among people living in marshy areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a landowner named Aluric de Meres in Shropshire, England. This early spelling variation, "de Meres," reflects the name's connection to a specific place or locality.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name evolved into various spellings, including Mires, Myres, and Myers, as it spread across different regions of England. One notable figure from this period was Sir John Meres, a member of the Garter Knights of Bedfordshire, who lived around 1380.

By the 16th century, the Myers surname had become more widespread, particularly in counties like Yorkshire and Lancashire. In 1592, a record mentions a Thomas Myers, a yeoman from Yorkshire, indicating the name's association with landowners and farmers.

As the name spread across Europe, it also took on different variations based on local languages and dialects. In Germany, for instance, the name was often spelled as Meier or Meyers, deriving from the German word "Meier," which means a steward or bailiff.

One of the most famous bearers of the Myers surname was the American writer and educator, Gustavus Myers (1842-1942), known for his critical works on the history of the United States and its economic and political systems.

Other notable individuals with the Myers surname include:

1. Frances Myers (1893-1973), an American artist and illustrator known for her children's book illustrations.
2. Walter Myers (1937-2014), a American writer of children's books and young adult literature, renowned for his depictions of urban life and African American experiences.
3. Alice Myers (1892-1992), an Australian painter and printmaker, recognized for her landscape and still life works.
4. Howard Myers (1897-1981), an American film director and producer, best known for his work in the Western genre during the 1940s and 1950s.
5. Frederic W.H. Myers (1843-1901), an English poet and literary critic, and a founding member of the Society for Psychical Research.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Myers

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

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

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

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