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

Searls, 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 Searls surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Searls in America

Searls is the 17481st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Searls surname appeared 1,612 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Searls.

We can also compare 2010 data for Searls 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 Searls

The surname Searls is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English words "sær" or "searu," meaning clever or skilled. It was initially an occupational surname given to individuals known for their craftiness or ingenuity in a particular trade or profession.

The earliest known recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, with references found in various historical documents and records from that era. One notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Searls, a prominent knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the mid-14th century.

As the name spread across different regions of England, it underwent several spelling variations, such as Searle, Serle, and Serl. These variations often reflected local dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the names in official documents.

The Searls surname was also associated with certain geographical locations, such as Searles Farm in Kent, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, one of the oldest public records from Norman England.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Searls surname. One such person was Richard Searls (1605-1667), an English Puritan minister and one of the founders of the town of Rowley, Massachusetts, in the early days of the American colonies.

Another prominent figure was John Searls (1719-1795), a British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He played a crucial role in several significant naval engagements and was eventually promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral.

In the literary world, Richard Searls (1856-1924) was an American author and journalist who wrote extensively on topics related to the American Civil War and the Wild West. His works, including "The Wilderness Hunter" and "Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail," provide valuable insights into that era.

Elizabeth Searls (1910-1998) was a distinguished American botanist and conservationist who made significant contributions to the study of plant ecology and the preservation of natural habitats. She was awarded the prestigious Veitch Memorial Medal in 1983 for her pioneering work.

Finally, James Searls (1947-2021) was a renowned Canadian sculptor and artist known for his large-scale public installations and abstract works. His sculptures can be found in various cities across North America, including the iconic "Ascension" in Toronto's Yorkville neighborhood.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Searls

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

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

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

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