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

Searles, 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 Searles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Searles in America

Searles is the 5627th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Searles surname appeared 6,178 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 Searles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Searles 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 Searles

The surname Searles has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English word "searul," meaning "seal" or "sea calf." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who resided near areas where seals were found or with those who were involved in hunting seals.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sereles." This entry refers to a landowner in Devonshire. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including Serles, Sarles, and eventually, Searles.

In the 13th century, records mention a John de Serles, who was a resident of Northamptonshire. This provides evidence of the name's continued presence in different regions of England during that era.

The name Searles has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such individual was William Searles (1570-1623), an English clergyman and theologian who served as a chaplain to King James I.

Another prominent figure was John Searles (1638-1698), a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and contributed significantly to the field of celestial mechanics.

In the literary world, Mary Searles (1790-1840) was an English novelist and poet who gained recognition for her works, including "The Narrative of a Life" and "Constance de Beverley."

Moving into the 19th century, Edward Searles (1841-1920) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He amassed a considerable fortune through his investments in railroads and real estate and later became a notable patron of the arts, funding several educational institutions and cultural organizations.

Another notable figure was Walter Searles (1856-1924), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the state of Pennsylvania.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the surname Searles, highlighting its enduring presence and the diverse contributions made by those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Searles

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

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

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

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