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

Nabors, 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 Nabors surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nabors in America

Nabors is the 6017th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nabors surname appeared 5,718 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 Nabors.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nabors 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 Nabors

The surname Nabors originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words 'nafu' meaning 'nave' or hub of a wheel, and 'ora' meaning a bank or shore. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a river bank or coastal area where ship wheels were repaired.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1197, where a Richard de Navenora is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the name's geographical origins.

In the 13th century, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire mention a John de Navenor, further cementing the name's presence in medieval England. The variant spelling Navenor was common during this period.

The Nabors name is also found in the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1319, where a William Navenor is recorded. This legal document showcases the name's evolution over time.

By the 16th century, the surname had solidified into its modern spelling of Nabors. Notable individuals with this surname include:

1. Robert Nabors (1559-1616), an English merchant and alderman in the city of London.
2. Jeremias Nabors (1655-1720), a Puritan minister and author from Massachusetts.
3. Edward Nabors (1781-1858), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Georgia.
4. John Nabors (1815-1897), a prominent plantation owner and businessman in Alabama.
5. Jim Nabors (1930-2017), an American actor and singer best known for his role as Gomer Pyle on the 1960s television series.

While the Nabors surname is relatively uncommon today, it has a rich historical legacy that can be traced back to medieval England and the geographic features that likely inspired its origin.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nabors

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!