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

Settles, 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 Settles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Settles in America

Settles is the 5656th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Settles surname appeared 6,137 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 Settles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Settles 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 Settles

The surname Settles is of English origin, emerging in the late medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "setl," meaning a seat or dwelling place, and was likely used as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a particular seat or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where a Robert de Settles is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a locational surname, referring to a specific place or settlement.

In the 14th century, the name appears in several records, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a William de Setles is mentioned in 1315. This spelling variation, "Setles," highlights the fluidity of surnames during this period.

The Settles name can also be traced to various place names in England, such as Settle in Yorkshire, which was originally recorded as "Setle" in the Domesday Book of 1086. This connection suggests that some individuals bearing the surname may have adopted it as a locational identifier, indicating their place of origin or residence.

Notable historical figures with the surname Settles include:

1. Richard Settles (c. 1570 - 1626), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Croydon in Surrey.
2. John Settles (1638 - 1701), an English merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the colonization of Virginia.
3. Mary Settles (1715 - 1792), a renowned English philanthropist and advocate for women's education in the 18th century.
4. William Settles (1798 - 1872), a British explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in Africa.
5. Elizabeth Settles (1846 - 1919), an influential American educator and advocate for women's rights, particularly in the field of higher education.

These examples demonstrate the widespread use of the Settles surname across various professions and time periods, reflecting its enduring presence in English history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Settles

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

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

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

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