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

Pharis, 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 Pharis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pharis in America

Pharis is the 22047th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pharis surname appeared 1,176 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 Pharis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pharis 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 Pharis

The surname Pharis is of Anglo-Saxon origin, with roots that can be traced back to the medieval period in England. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English word "fær," which means "journey" or "travel." It is likely that the name was initially an occupational surname given to a messenger or a traveler who carried news or goods between different communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pharis can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Farus." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of land and resources in England, and the inclusion of the name suggests that it was already in use at that time.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Faris" and "Farys," in records from counties like Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. These variations reflect the regional dialects and scribal practices of the era.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir John Pharis, a knight who served under Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He participated in several campaigns against the French and was rewarded with lands in Shropshire for his military service.

Another historical figure with the surname Pharis was William Pharis, born in 1522, who was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London. He played a significant role in the expansion of trade with the Netherlands and was known for his philanthropy, contributing to the construction of almshouses and charitable institutions.

In the 17th century, the surname Pharis spread to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. One notable bearer from this period was Robert Pharis, a Scottish clergyman born in 1646, who served as the minister of the parish of Kilwinning and wrote several religious treatises.

The name Pharis also found its way to the American colonies, where it was carried by immigrants from Britain. One of the earliest recorded instances in the New World was John Pharis, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and became a landowner and planter in the colony.

Throughout its history, the surname Pharis has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Pharis Island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and the town of Pharis in Nottinghamshire, England. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pharis

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

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

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

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