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

Northern, 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 Northern surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Northern in America

Northern is the 8981st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Northern surname appeared 3,643 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 Northern.

We can also compare 2010 data for Northern 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 Northern

The surname Northern is an English locational surname that originated in the northern regions of England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "norþern," meaning "of the north" or "northern." This name was likely given to individuals who migrated from the northern parts of the country or to those who settled in the northern regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Northern surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1177. This document mentions a Richard del Northern, indicating the surname's usage during the 12th century. The prefix "del" in this spelling suggests a connection to a specific northern location or village.

In the 13th century, the Northern surname appeared in various historical records, such as the Curia Regis Rolls of Northumberland, where a William le Northern was mentioned in 1228. The use of the prefix "le" in this spelling further reinforces the surname's locational origins.

The Northern surname can also be linked to several place names in England, such as Northern Wray in Lancashire and Northern Yeldhall in Yorkshire. These place names may have contributed to the development and use of the surname in their respective regions.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Northern surname. One notable figure was John Northern (c. 1570-1623), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Clare College, Cambridge, from 1619 until his death.

Another prominent individual was Roger Northern (1651-1733), an English lawyer and antiquarian who wrote extensively on the history and antiquities of Yorkshire. His work, "The Natural History of Yorkshire," published in 1703, is considered a significant contribution to the study of Yorkshire's natural history and archaeology.

In the field of literature, Frederick Northern (1837-1891) was a British poet and playwright. He gained recognition for his poetic works, such as "The Minstrel's Curse" and "The Parting Hour," which were published in the 19th century.

Additionally, the Northern surname can be found in the military records of various conflicts, including the American Revolutionary War. One such individual was Captain John Northern (1723-1806), a British Army officer who served in the French and Indian War and later fought against the American colonists during the Revolutionary War.

Finally, in the realm of sports, John Northern (1890-1962) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward for several clubs, including Sunderland and Middlesbrough, in the early 20th century.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and contributions of individuals who have carried the Northern surname throughout history, reflecting the surname's longstanding presence and significance in various spheres of society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Northern

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

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

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

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