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

Scobey, 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 Scobey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Scobey in America

Scobey is the 36838th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Scobey surname appeared 606 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 Scobey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Scobey 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 Scobey

The surname Scobey is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place called Scobie or Scobey in Northumberland, England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Willelmus de Scobyra is mentioned. This entry suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 11th century.

The name Scobey is thought to be derived from the Old English words "scocc" and "byri," meaning "small wood" and "dwelling," respectively. This suggests that the original bearers of the name may have lived near or owned a small wooded area.

In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Scoby holding lands in Northumberland. Meanwhile, in the 14th century, a John de Schobyry is mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Essex, indicating the spread of the name to other parts of England.

One notable bearer of the surname was Sir John Scobey (c. 1545-1609), who served as a judge and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in England during the reign of King James I.

Another prominent individual was Robert Scobey (1700-1762), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Doctrine of Salvation" and "The Life of Christ."

In the 19th century, William Scobey (1812-1890) was a Scottish-born civil engineer who worked on various railway projects in England and Scotland.

The name also found its way to the United States, with records showing a John Scobey settling in Virginia as early as the 17th century.

One of the earliest recorded Scobeys in America was Samuel Scobey (1732-1806), a Revolutionary War soldier from Pennsylvania who fought in several battles, including the Battle of Brandywine.

Overall, the surname Scobey has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in medieval England and a connection to a small wooded area or dwelling. While the name has spread worldwide, it remains a testament to the diverse linguistic and cultural influences that have shaped English surnames over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Scobey

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

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

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

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