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

Payor, 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 Payor surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Payor in America

Payor is the 142819th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Payor surname appeared 107 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Payor.

The history of the last name Payor

The surname Payor is believed to have origins in the British Isles, specifically in England. Historical evidence suggests that the name first appeared in records from the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. It is likely derived from the Anglo-Norman word "payer," meaning "to pay," indicating that early bearers of the name could have been involved in financial or administrative occupations, such as tax collectors or paymasters.

One of the earliest mentions of the surname Payor can be found in the Pipe Rolls from the late 12th century, where a Richard le Payor was recorded in Durham in 1196. This suggests that the surname was already in use by this time and may have been linked to specific roles within the local community.

In the centuries that followed, the surname appears in various historical documents and records, often with slight variations in spelling. For instance, in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, a John Payor was listed, indicating the continuing presence of the name in England. This name variant suggests regional pronunciations and spelling conventions could have influenced the surname's evolution.

By the 16th century, the name had maintained a presence in English records. In particular, a Christopher Payor was documented as part of the muster rolls of Lincolnshire in 1545. This individual may have been involved in local governance or military service, given the context of the records.

The name also appeared in legal documents and land agreements. A notable example is Anne Payor, who was recorded in a land lease document in Norfolk in 1623. This highlights the presence of the surname in diverse regions across England and indicates that those with this last name were engaged in various aspects of community and economic life.

Historical reference to the surname extends into the 18th century, with individuals such as Thomas Payor, born in 1703, who is mentioned in parish records of Middlesex. His life and activities would have been part of the social fabric of early 18th-century England.

In summary, the surname Payor has a rich history dating back to the medieval period in England, with various records and documents tracing its lineage across the centuries. Individuals bearing this surname were often engaged in roles connected to finance, land agreements, and local governance, painting a picture of a family name deeply interwoven with the social and economic fabric of historical England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Payor

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Payor 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.

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Payor, 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!