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

Reasoner, 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 Reasoner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reasoner in America

Reasoner is the 14537th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reasoner surname appeared 2,050 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 Reasoner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reasoner 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 Reasoner

The surname Reasoner is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Old English words "resun" and "raesun," which referred to reasoning, logic, or argument. The name likely originated as an occupational surname, given to those who were skilled in logical thinking, debate, or persuasion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reasoner can be found in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a certain John Resoner is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the surname over time.

In the 15th century, the Reasoner surname was prominent in the county of Lincolnshire, where several families bearing the name resided. The Subsidy Rolls of 1524 list a Thomas Resoner from the village of Stickney, suggesting the name's association with this particular region.

During the 16th century, the Reasoner name appeared in various historical records across England. In 1567, a William Reasoner was recorded in the Parish Registers of St. Peter's Church, Nottingham. Additionally, the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1674 mention a Robert Reasoner from the town of Spalding, Lincolnshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Reasoner include Sir John Reasoner (1580-1644), a respected lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. His contributions to the legal system and his involvement in the English Civil War have been well documented.

Another prominent figure was Elizabeth Reasoner (1712-1786), a renowned scholar and educator from Oxford. She was one of the first women to be admitted to the University of Oxford and made significant contributions to the field of philosophy.

In the 19th century, the Reasoner surname gained recognition through the work of William Reasoner (1818-1892), a renowned author and journalist. His writings on social and political issues were widely published and influential during the Victorian era.

The Reasoner name also has connections to the town of Reasoner, located in Panola County, Texas. This place name is believed to have been derived from the surname, although the exact origins of the town's naming are uncertain.

While the Reasoner surname may not be as common as some others, it has a rich and diverse history, spanning several centuries and regions of England. The name's connotations of logic, reasoning, and persuasion have undoubtedly contributed to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reasoner

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

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

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

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