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

Sailors, 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 Sailors surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sailors in America

Sailors is the 21092nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sailors surname appeared 1,245 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 Sailors.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sailors 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 Sailors

The surname "SAILORS" has its origins in England, with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "sæliðere," which translates to "seafarer" or "sailor." This occupational surname was likely given to individuals whose profession involved sailing ships or working on the sea.

The name first appeared in historical records during the Norman Conquest of England in the late 11th century. Several entries in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive land survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, mention individuals with variations of the name, such as "Saelither" and "Sælidere."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, where a certain Robert le Saylur is mentioned in 1208. The use of the prefix "le" before the occupational name was common practice during the Middle Ages, indicating the person's trade or profession.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including "Saylour" and "Seilour," reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time. Notable bearers of the name from this period include William le Saylur, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1228, and John le Saylour, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275.

As the surname evolved, it took on various spellings, such as "Sailor," "Saylor," and "Saylor." One prominent individual with this surname was Richard Saylor, a merchant and alderman who lived in Bristol, England, in the late 15th century.

Another notable figure was Sir Hubert de Saylor, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century. He was rewarded with lands in Normandy for his bravery and service to the English crown.

In the 16th century, John Sailor, a renowned shipbuilder from Portsmouth, England, gained recognition for his expertise in constructing naval vessels for the Royal Navy. His descendants continued the family tradition, and the Sailor surname became closely associated with maritime professions in the coastal regions of England.

Throughout the centuries, the surname "SAILORS" has been carried by many individuals from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the widespread presence of seafaring occupations in England's history. The name continues to be found in various spellings and remains a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sailors

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!