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

Proctor, 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 Proctor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Proctor in America

Proctor is the 977th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Proctor surname appeared 35,636 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 12 people would have the surname Proctor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Proctor 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 Proctor

The surname Proctor is of English origin, and it can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "procuratour," which in turn comes from the Latin "procurator," meaning a manager or administrator. The name was initially given as an occupational surname to people who oversaw and managed the affairs of an estate, church, or other institution.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Proctor can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a person named Walter le Procuratour is mentioned. The name also appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, referring to a Robert Proctor.

In the 14th century, the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, where many Proctors held important positions in monasteries and religious houses. One notable example is John Proctor, who served as the Prior of the Augustinian Priory in Bolton, Lancashire, in the late 14th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Proctor began to appear more frequently in various records, such as parish registers and wills. In 1584, a Robert Proctor was listed as a landowner in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire. Additionally, in the 1640s, a John Proctor became infamous as one of the victims of the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Proctor have achieved recognition in various fields. One notable figure was Richard Proctor (1837-1888), an English astronomer and writer who contributed significantly to the popularization of astronomy. Another prominent Proctor was Redfield Proctor (1831-1908), a lawyer and politician who served as the 37th Governor of Vermont and later as the United States Secretary of War.

Other notable individuals with the surname Proctor include:

1. Thomas Proctor (1753-1846), an English industrialist and pioneer of the textile industry in Yorkshire.
2. Lori Proctor (born 1978), an American professional wrestler and former TNA Knockout Champion.
3. Robert E. Proctor (1868-1903), an American naval officer and one of the first aviators in the United States Navy.
4. Patrick Proctor Alexander (1926-1997), a British novelist and playwright known for his works set in the Caribbean.

The surname Proctor continues to be prevalent in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries, reflecting its long-standing history and the significant contributions of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Proctor

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

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

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

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