Norfleet last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Norfleet

An English occupational surname for a maker or seller of an unidentified item, possibly a type of arrow.

Norfleet, 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 Norfleet surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Norfleet in America

Norfleet is the 7988th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Norfleet surname appeared 4,139 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 Norfleet.

We can also compare 2010 data for Norfleet 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 7988 7817 2.16%
Count 4,139 3,924 5.33%
Proportion per 100k 1.40 1.45 -3.51%

The history of the last name Norfleet

The surname "NORFLEET" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to derive from the Old English words "nor" and "flet," which together mean "northern dwelling" or "northern habitation." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived in a northern region or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry "Norfleit" is listed among the inhabitants of Norfolk, indicating the name's strong ties to this eastern English county.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Northflete," "Northfleet," and "Norflite," reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during this period. These variations often incorporated place names or locations associated with the family's origins.

One notable figure bearing the Norfleet name was John Norfleet, a prominent English merchant who lived in the 15th century. Records indicate that he was involved in international trade and held significant influence in the city of Bristol.

Another individual of historical significance was Sir Richard Norfleet, a military commander who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. He distinguished himself in several battles against the French and was knighted for his valor and leadership on the battlefield.

In the 17th century, the Norfleet family established a presence in the American colonies. Robert Norfleet, born in 1635, was among the early settlers in Virginia and played a role in the development of the colony's agricultural and trade industries.

During the 18th century, the Norfleet name gained prominence in the American South. Benjamin Norfleet, born in 1725, was a prominent plantation owner and influential figure in North Carolina politics, serving as a representative in the colonial assembly.

Another notable figure was John Norfleet, a soldier and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War. Born in 1745, he achieved the rank of captain and played a pivotal role in several key battles against the British forces.

Throughout its history, the surname "NORFLEET" has maintained a strong association with its English roots, reflecting the migration patterns and achievements of those who carried this name across generations and continents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Norfleet

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

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 Norfleet was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 38.10% 1,577
Non-Hispanic Black Only 56.10% 2,322
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.68% 28
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.34% 14
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.88% 119
Hispanic Origin 1.91% 79

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 Norfleet has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 38.10% 41.74% -9.12%
Black 56.10% 54.54% 2.82%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.68% 0.51% 28.57%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.34% 0.23% 38.60%
Two or More Races 2.88% 1.96% 38.02%
Hispanic 1.91% 1.02% 60.75%

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

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

Reference this page

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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!

"Norfleet last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 26, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/norfleet-surname-popularity/.

"Norfleet last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/norfleet-surname-popularity/. Accessed 26 July, 2024

Norfleet last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/norfleet-surname-popularity/.

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