Sansbury
A rare variant of the English locational surname derived from the place name Sainsbury or Sainsborough.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,405 Americans carry the last name Sansbury. That puts it at #21,686 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.41 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 243,953 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sansbury surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.4K
1 in 243,953
Census rank
#21,686
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,201 bearers of the surname Sansbury in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.41 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 21686th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sansbury, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.4%. The next largest groups are Black (28.1%) and Two or More Races (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sansbury
The surname Sansbury has its roots in England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "sand" and "burg," meaning "sandy fort" or "sandy town." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a sandy area or a town with sandy soil.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the year 1195, where a certain Willelmus de Sandesburc is mentioned. This record indicates that the name was in use during the medieval period in the county of Lincolnshire.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a settlement called "Sandesberie" is listed, which is likely related to the surname. This place name further supports the connection between the name and sandy locations.
During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Sandeburi, Sandesbury, and Sandesbyr, reflecting the evolving spelling patterns of the time. One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Sansbury, a knight who fought in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
In the 16th century, a prominent figure with the surname was Richard Sansbury (c. 1510-1585), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Middlesex. Another individual of note was William Sansbury (1557-1623), a renowned English playwright and poet who contributed to the development of Elizabethan theatre.
Moving into the 17th century, the name gained recognition with the birth of Sarah Sansbury (1642-1701), a Quaker minister and author who was known for her religious writings and activism. In the same period, John Sansbury (1625-1693) made a mark as a successful merchant and landowner in the city of London.
The 18th century saw the emergence of Thomas Sansbury (1725-1789), a distinguished English architect who designed several notable buildings, including St. Martin's Church in Birmingham. Another notable figure was Elizabeth Sansbury (1765-1842), a philanthropist and social reformer who advocated for the education of underprivileged children.
As the centuries progressed, the Sansbury surname continued to be found across various regions of England, with families bearing this name making contributions in various fields, from politics and literature to science and the arts.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sansbury
Among Census respondents with the surname Sansbury, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.4%. The next largest groups are Black (28.1%) and Two or More Races (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Sansbury bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Sansbury surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White68.4%
- Black or African American28.1%
- Two or more races2.2%
- Hispanic or Latino1.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Sansbury surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,686 | #21,686 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,201 | 1,201 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.41 | 0.41 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Sansbury bearers went from 1,201 to 1,201 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #21,686 to #21,686.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Sansbury
FAQ
Sansbury surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Sansbury?
The surname Sansbury holds position #21,686 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,405 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.41 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Sansbury surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sansbury, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.4%. The next largest groups are Black (28.1%) and Two or More Races (2.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.