Seary last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Seary

A surname derived from an Old French word meaning "dry" or "barren."

Seary, 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 Seary surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Seary in America

Seary is the 128249th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Seary surname appeared 133 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 Seary.

We can also compare 2010 data for Seary 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 128249 111740 13.76%
Count 133 146 -9.32%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.05 0.00%

The history of the last name Seary

The surname SEARY is an English occupational name derived from the Old English word "særi", meaning a maker or seller of serge, a type of woollen fabric. It is believed to have originated in the county of Somerset, England, during the medieval period.

The earliest recorded instance of the name SEARY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Serge" in the county of Devon. This suggests that the name may have had its roots in the West Country of England, particularly in the areas known for their wool and textile industries.

During the 13th century, the name evolved into various spellings, such as "Serger", "Sergere", and "Serjour", reflecting the changing pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. These variations can be found in medieval records and documents across various regions of England.

One notable individual with the surname SEARY was John Seary (c. 1480-1550), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, England. He was known for his involvement in the local wool trade and his philanthropic efforts in supporting the city's infrastructure and charitable institutions.

Another historical figure bearing the name SEARY was William Seary (1590-1662), a clergyman and author who served as the rector of Martock in Somerset. He published several theological works and was respected for his scholarly pursuits.

In the 18th century, the surname SEARY gained recognition through the accomplishments of Thomas Seary (1720-1790), an English naval officer who participated in several significant battles during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. His bravery and leadership earned him promotions and commendations.

A notable literary figure with the surname SEARY was Mary Seary (1797-1884), an English poet and author who wrote several volumes of poetry and religious works. Her poems often celebrated nature and explored themes of faith and spirituality.

Another individual of note was Sir John Seary (1835-1912), a British industrialist and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the textile industry and used his wealth to support various charitable causes, including the establishment of educational institutions and hospitals in his hometown of Bradford, Yorkshire.

Throughout its history, the surname SEARY has maintained a strong connection to its occupational roots in the textile and wool industries, particularly in the counties of Somerset and Devon. While the name has spread to other regions and countries over time, its origins can be traced back to the skilled craftsmen and merchants who played a pivotal role in the English wool trade during the medieval and early modern periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Seary

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

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 Seary was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 65.41% 87
Non-Hispanic Black Only 11.28% 15
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 22.56% 30

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 Seary has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 65.41% 66.44% -1.56%
Black 11.28% 11.64% -3.14%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.00% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Hispanic 22.56% 21.92% 2.88%

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

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

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"Seary last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 27, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/seary-surname-popularity/.

"Seary last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/seary-surname-popularity/. Accessed 27 May, 2025

Seary last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/seary-surname-popularity/.

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