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

Rex, 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 Rex surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rex in America

Rex is the 5975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rex surname appeared 5,758 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Rex.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rex 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 Rex

The surname Rex originates from the Latin word 'rex', meaning 'king'. It is thought to have first emerged as a surname in England during the Middle Ages, likely as a nickname or descriptive name given to someone who exhibited regal or kingly qualities.

Rex is an ancient surname with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a historical record of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. References to individuals with the surname Rex appear in various medieval records and manuscripts from this time period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Rex surname was William Rex, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. William Rex was granted lands in Oxfordshire for his service to the king.

The Rex surname also has ties to place names, particularly in Suffolk and Essex, where it is believed to have originated from locations like Rexham (now Rectory Farm) and Rexborough (now Roxborough). These place names likely derived from the Old English words 'recc' or 'rex', meaning 'ruler' or 'king'.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Rex surname. One such figure was Sir William Rex (1445-1508), a prominent English courtier and landowner during the reign of Henry VII. Another was Sir John Rex (1508-1594), a Member of Parliament during the Tudor period.

Other notable individuals with the Rex surname include:

1. Walter Rex (1280-1361), an English landowner and knight who served under Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.
2. Thomas Rex (1555-1638), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Norwich.
3. Robert Rex (1670-1742), a Scottish mathematician and inventor who devised an early form of the barometer.
4. Ebenezer Rex (1820-1892), an American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
5. Florence Rex (1889-1971), an American actress and dancer known for her work in vaudeville and Broadway productions.

The Rex surname has a rich history rooted in the Latin word for 'king', and its bearers have made significant contributions across various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rex

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

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

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

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