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

Search, 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 Search surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Search in America

Search is the 34223rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Search surname appeared 663 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 Search.

We can also compare 2010 data for Search 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 Search

The surname SEARCH is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as an occupational surname, derived from the Old French word "sercher," meaning "to search" or "to explore." The name likely referred to individuals who were employed as searchers, inspectors, or investigators of various kinds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SEARCH surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like document compiled in 1273. The entry "Willelmus le Sercher" suggests that the name was already established in the 13th century.

During the late 14th century, the SEARCH surname appeared in several historical records, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, which listed a "Johannes Sercher." This indicates that the name had spread to different regions of England by that time.

In the 16th century, the SEARCH surname was documented in the parish records of St. Martin in the Fields, London, where a "John Search" was recorded in 1568. This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surname spellings during that era.

One notable individual with the SEARCH surname was John Search (c. 1588-1654), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Bartholomew's Church in London. His literary works included several religious treatises and sermons.

Another significant figure was Nathan Search (1681-1761), an English mathematician and astronomer. He made contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and served as the Gresham Professor of Geometry at Gresham College, London.

In the 18th century, the SEARCH surname was associated with the village of Searche's Court, located in the parish of Westerham, Kent. This place name may have derived from an early bearer of the surname SEARCH who held land or property in the area.

Edward Search (1737-1820), a British-American merchant and politician, was born in London but later emigrated to Philadelphia, where he became a prominent figure in the city's business and political circles.

During the 19th century, the SEARCH surname gained recognition through individuals like John Search (1826-1900), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Manchester, England, who funded the construction of several public buildings and institutions in his hometown.

While the SEARCH surname has its roots in England, it eventually spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. Today, individuals bearing this surname can be found in various countries, carrying on the legacy of their ancestors' occupational or geographical associations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Search

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

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

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

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