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

Redfearn, 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 Redfearn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Redfearn in America

Redfearn is the 15477th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Redfearn surname appeared 1,892 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 Redfearn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Redfearn 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 Redfearn

The surname Redfearn originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "read" and "fearn," meaning "red" and "fern" respectively, possibly indicating that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a patch of red ferns or in an area with reddish soil.

During the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various forms, including Redferne, Redfern, and Readfern, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common at the time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1275, where it is spelled "Redfern."

The Redfearn family seems to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. In the 16th century, records show a concentration of Redfearns in the parish of Guiseley, near Leeds, suggesting that this area may have been a stronghold for the family.

Historical references to the Redfearn name include mentions in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, where a Richard Redferne is listed as a taxpayer. Additionally, the Redfearns are mentioned in the Hearth Tax Returns of 1674, which recorded the number of hearths or fireplaces in each household for taxation purposes.

One notable figure bearing the Redfearn surname was Thomas Redfearn (1561-1629), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Halton Holegate in Lincolnshire. Another prominent individual was William Redfearn (1638-1688), a Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious works during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, a Redfearn family established themselves in the town of Wakefield, Yorkshire. John Redfearn (1745-1823) was a successful merchant and landowner in the area, and his son, also named John Redfearn (1772-1845), became a prominent lawyer and served as the Mayor of Wakefield.

Another noteworthy individual was Robert Redfearn (1796-1876), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in Yorkshire, including the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Scarborough.

As the Redfearn family spread across England and beyond, the name underwent various spellings and variations, such as Redfern, Readfern, and Redfearne, but the core meaning and origins remained rooted in the Old English words for "red" and "fern."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Redfearn

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

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

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

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