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

Senior, 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 Senior surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Senior in America

Senior is the 8518th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Senior surname appeared 3,864 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 Senior.

We can also compare 2010 data for Senior 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 Senior

The surname SENIOR originated in England and dates back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old French word "seigneur," meaning "lord" or "elder." It was initially used as a descriptive name for someone who held a position of authority or seniority within a community or organization.

In the early days, the name SENIOR was often associated with landowners, noblemen, or those in positions of power. It was not uncommon for individuals with this surname to appear in historical records, such as court documents or land deeds, as early as the 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SENIOR can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1230, where a certain John le Seigneur is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the name's French origins and its evolution over time.

During the medieval period, the surname SENIOR was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire in the southwest of England. It was also found in other regions, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire.

In the 14th century, the SENIOR surname appeared in the Chancery Rolls of Gloucestershire, where a Robert le Seignour was recorded. This historical document provides insight into the name's evolution and its use during that time.

One notable figure bearing the SENIOR surname was Sir Henry Senior, born in 1603 in Derbyshire. He was a prominent lawyer and served as the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of King Charles II.

Another influential individual was William Senior, born in 1770 in Yorkshire. He was a renowned economist and political economist who contributed significantly to the development of economic thought in the 19th century.

The SENIOR surname was also associated with places like Seniorhill in Somerset and Seniorhall in Warwickshire, indicating its connection to specific locations and estates.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Cheltenham, where several SENIOR families were documented.

One notable SENIOR family hailed from the village of Diddlebury in Shropshire, where they held land and influence for generations. Samuel Senior, born in 1629, was a prominent member of this family and served as the High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1679.

Over the centuries, the SENIOR surname has been carried by many individuals across various professions and walks of life, cementing its place in the history and heritage of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Senior

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

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

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

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