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

Neat, 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 Neat surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Neat in America

Neat is the 40494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Neat surname appeared 540 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 Neat.

We can also compare 2010 data for Neat 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 Neat

The surname NEAT has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "nett," which meant "neat" or "tidy." This suggests that the name may have been used to describe someone with neat or orderly habits or appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1190, where a person named William Neet is mentioned. The name also appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1207, with a reference to a Robert Nett.

During the 13th century, the name NEAT began to spread across various parts of England, with variations in spelling such as Nete, Nett, and Nette. It is often difficult to determine the exact origin of surnames from this period, as they were frequently derived from descriptive nicknames or occupations.

In the 14th century, the name NEAT appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a Walter Nete is recorded. This document, dating from 1273, provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that era.

One notable individual bearing the surname NEAT was John Neet, a prominent merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire, who lived in the late 15th century. Another historical figure was Thomas Neat, a scholar and theologian from Cambridge University, who was born in 1551 and died in 1615.

The surname NEAT also found its way into various place names, such as Neat's Court in Kent, which was first recorded in the 16th century. This suggests that the name was associated with landowners or prominent families in certain regions.

Other notable individuals with the surname NEAT include:

1. William Neat (1572-1647), an English clergyman and author.
2. Samuel Neat (1634-1690), a Presbyterian minister and writer from Scotland.
3. John Neat (1685-1748), a British mathematician and astronomer.
4. Elizabeth Neat (1738-1813), a British philanthropist and social reformer.
5. James Neat (1801-1879), a Scottish engineer and inventor.

The surname NEAT has maintained a presence throughout the centuries, with various spellings and derivations, reflecting the diverse origins and histories of families bearing this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Neat

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

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

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

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