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

Plair, 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 Plair surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Plair in America

Plair is the 28856th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Plair surname appeared 824 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 Plair.

We can also compare 2010 data for Plair 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 Plair

The surname PLAIR has its origins in the northern regions of France, dating back to the early medieval period around the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "plaire," meaning "to please" or "to be pleasing." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname or occupational reference for someone who was considered pleasant or agreeable in their demeanor or line of work.

One of the earliest documented references to the name PLAIR can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, England, from the year 1195. These rolls record a Robert Plair as a landowner in the county at that time. This indicates that the name had already established itself and spread from its French origins by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the spelling variations "Playre" and "Pleyre" appear in various English and Norman records, further illustrating the evolution of the name's orthography over time. Notable individuals bearing this surname during this period include Sir William Playre, a knight who fought in the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, and Margery Pleyre, a landowner in Somerset recorded in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1327.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the PLAIR name continued to spread across various regions of England, with records showing instances of the surname in counties such as Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Norfolk. One notable figure from this era was John Plair, a merchant and alderman in the city of Norwich, who lived between 1380 and 1452.

In the 16th century, the PLAIR surname gained prominence in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands. This is evident in the Charter Rolls of King James IV of Scotland, which mention a Duncan Plair receiving lands in Argyll in 1508. Another significant individual was Robert Plair, a Scottish clergyman and author who lived from 1535 to 1602.

As the centuries progressed, the PLAIR name continued to be found in various parts of the British Isles, with individuals such as Thomas Plair, a wealthy landowner in Oxfordshire in the 17th century, and Samuel Plair, a renowned clockmaker in London during the late 18th century, contributing to the legacy of the surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Plair

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

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

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

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