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

Near, 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 Near surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Near in America

Near is the 16349th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Near surname appeared 1,762 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Near.

We can also compare 2010 data for Near 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 Near

The surname NEAR is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from the Old English word "nearu," meaning "narrow" or "constricted." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with people who lived in a narrow valley or a place with a narrow geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname NEAR can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Lincolnshire, dated 1273, where it appears as "de la Nere." This early spelling variation highlights the locational nature of the name and its connection to a specific place.

In the 14th century, the surname NEAR appears in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where it is listed as "Nere." This indicates the spread and establishment of the name across different regions of England.

During the reign of King Edward III, in the late 14th century, a notable figure named John NEAR served as a member of the King's Council. His prominence in this influential position suggests that the NEAR family held a respected status within English society at the time.

In the 16th century, the NEAR surname was associated with several notable individuals. One such person was William NEAR, a merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived from 1520 to 1588. Another prominent figure was Thomas NEAR, a scholar and clergyman who served as the Dean of Canterbury from 1570 to 1589.

The 17th century saw the rise of Edward NEAR, a prominent lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Baron of the Exchequer from 1660 to 1677. His legal expertise and high-ranking position in the English judicial system further elevated the status of the NEAR family.

In the 18th century, the NEAR surname gained international recognition through the accomplishments of Sir Archibald NEAR, a British naval officer and explorer. Born in 1725 and serving until his death in 1792, Sir Archibald made significant contributions to the exploration of the Pacific Ocean and the mapping of various islands and coastlines.

As the centuries progressed, the NEAR surname continued to be associated with notable individuals across various fields, further solidifying its place in English history and genealogy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Near

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

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

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

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