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

Sexton, 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 Sexton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sexton in America

Sexton is the 804th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sexton surname appeared 43,133 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 15 people would have the surname Sexton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sexton 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 Sexton

The surname Sexton originated in medieval England, derived from the Old English word "sexton," which referred to an official or church officer responsible for the maintenance and care of the church building and its associated property, including the churchyard and bell-ringing. This name is an occupational surname, indicating the bearer's occupation or trade, a common practice during that time period.

The name Sexton can be traced back to the 13th century, with early recorded instances found in various historical documents and records. One notable mention is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Thomas le Sexteyn is listed in Oxfordshire. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any specific references to the surname Sexton, but it does mention several individuals with similar occupational titles, such as "sacerdos" (priest) or "clericus" (clerk).

In the 14th century, the surname Sexton appeared in various forms, including Sextain, Sextayn, and Sextone, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation during that era. The name was particularly prevalent in areas with a strong ecclesiastical presence, such as the counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Sexton was John Sexton, who lived in the late 13th century and was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. Another notable figure was Sir William Sexton, a wealthy landowner and knight who lived in Somersetshire during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Sexton gained further prominence, with several notable individuals bearing the name. Among them was Richard Sexton (c. 1529-1592), an English composer and organist who served as the Master of the Children at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, and later as the organist of Bristol Cathedral.

Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Sexton (c. 1545-1619), a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament who served as the Solicitor-General for Ireland and authored several legal treatises. He was knighted by King James I in 1603.

In the 17th century, the surname Sexton continued to be widespread, particularly in the southern and western counties of England. One notable individual from this period was George Sexton (1604-1677), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Warden of Christ Church, Oxford, and was a renowned preacher and theologian.

The surname Sexton has also been associated with several place names, such as Sexton's Green in Warwickshire and Sexton's Farm in Wiltshire, further reinforcing its historical roots and geographical distribution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sexton

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

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

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

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