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

Poss, 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 Poss surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Poss in America

Poss is the 10036th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Poss surname appeared 3,209 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 Poss.

We can also compare 2010 data for Poss 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 Poss

The surname POSS is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locative name, derived from the Old English word "poss," which referred to a small clump or tuft of grass or vegetation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name POSS can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Possa," referring to a landowner or resident of a place called Possa, likely a settlement or hamlet named after its grassy or vegetated surroundings.

During the Middle Ages, the name POSS was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where several villages and hamlets bore variations of the name, such as Possa, Posse, and Possingham. These place names likely stemmed from the Old English words "poss" or "possan," indicating a grassy or tufted area.

In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Possa, a landowner in the village of Possa in Yorkshire. Another early bearer of the name was John atte Posse, mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273.

During the Tudor period, the name POSS was found in various spellings, including Posse, Poss, and Possey. One notable figure from this era was Sir John Poss (c. 1500-1571), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who served as the Sheriff of York in 1556.

In the 17th century, the POSS surname was well-established in various parts of England, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such person was Richard Poss (1618-1686), a prominent Puritan minister and author from Suffolk, known for his work "The Doctrine of Assurance Explained and Vindicated."

Another prominent individual was William Poss (1670-1738), a renowned English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Twickenham and Stanmer House in Sussex.

As the centuries passed, the POSS surname continued to spread and evolve, with various branches emerging in different regions of England and beyond. While the name's origins can be traced back to the early medieval period, its enduring presence throughout history reflects the diverse and rich tapestry of English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Poss

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

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

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

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