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

Posy, 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 Posy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Posy in America

Posy is the 117480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Posy surname appeared 148 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 Posy.

The history of the last name Posy

The surname Posy is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the word "poesy," which was derived from the Old French "poesie," meaning poem or poetry. This surname may have initially been an occupational name for a poet or maker of verses.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Posy dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Hundredorum Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273. The name was also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332, where a John Posy was listed.

The surname Posy may also have originated from a place name, as it bears resemblance to the village of Posey in Derbyshire. It is possible that the name was initially a locative surname, given to someone who hailed from or resided near this locality.

In the 16th century, there are records of a William Posy who was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1580. This town was also the birthplace of the renowned playwright William Shakespeare, leading to speculation that the two may have been acquainted.

Another notable bearer of the Posy surname was Sir John Posy (1592-1667), a prominent English politician and member of Parliament during the English Civil War. He was a staunch Royalist and supported King Charles I.

In the 18th century, the Posy family appears to have had a presence in the American colonies. Records show a Thomas Posy who served as a captain in the Virginia militia during the Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, a John Posy (1810-1878) was a respected farmer and landowner in Kentucky. He was also a deacon in the local Baptist church and played an influential role in his community.

Another notable figure was Reverend Elijah Posy (1842-1923), an African American minister and educator who founded several schools for freed slaves in the years following the American Civil War.

While the surname Posy is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history dating back to medieval times, with potential ties to poetry, place names, and various notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Posy

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

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

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

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