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

Shadow, 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 Shadow surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shadow in America

Shadow is the 65964th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shadow surname appeared 300 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 Shadow.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shadow 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 Shadow

The surname "SHADOW" is believed to have its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from a place name that included the word "shadow" or a similar variation.

One possible source of the name is the Old English word "sceadu," which means "shade" or "shadow." This word may have been used to describe a settlement located in a shaded or wooded area, providing the basis for the surname.

Another theory suggests that the name may have been derived from the Old French word "eschauguette," which referred to a small projecting tower or turret attached to a larger building, such as a castle or fortified house. These structures were designed to provide protection and allow for observation, often casting long shadows.

In the Domesday Book, a survey conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, there are several references to places with names containing variations of "shadow," such as "Schadewell" and "Shadingfield." These entries may indicate early instances of the surname's use.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "SHADOW" was John Shadow, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of Wiltshire in 1273. Another notable figure was Thomas Shadow, a landowner in Gloucestershire, who was documented in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327.

In the 15th century, a family named Shadow resided in the village of Shadoxhurst, Kent. The name of the village itself may have been derived from the surname, suggesting a long-standing association between the family and the location.

During the 16th century, a prominent member of the Shadow family was Sir William Shadow (c. 1490 - 1568), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Bristol. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributed to the construction of several churches in the area.

Another notable individual was John Shadow (1608 - 1679), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Berkshire. He wrote several works on theology and church history.

In the 18th century, Edward Shadow (1720 - 1789) was a renowned architect from Gloucestershire. He designed several notable buildings, including the Gloucestershire County Hall and the Church of St. Mary de Crypt in Gloucester.

Throughout history, the surname "SHADOW" has been associated with various professions, from landowners and merchants to clergymen and architects, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shadow

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

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

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

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