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

Shair, 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 Shair surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shair in America

Shair is the 107134th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shair surname appeared 166 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 Shair.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shair 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 Shair

The surname "SHAIR" has its origins in Scotland, where it first emerged around the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "siar," which means "west" or "westward." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in the western regions of Scotland or someone who had migrated from the west.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1296, where a person named "William Schar" is listed. This spelling variation provides insight into the evolution of the name over time.

In the 14th century, records indicate the presence of a family called "Shair" in the area of Ayrshire, Scotland. This region was known for its fertile lands and abundant resources, which may have attracted settlers bearing this surname.

The name "SHAIR" has also been linked to several place names in Scotland, such as Shairmore and Shairgreen. These place names potentially derived from the surname itself or vice versa, reflecting the close connection between surnames and geographical locations during that era.

One notable individual bearing the surname "SHAIR" was John Shair, a Scottish clergyman who lived from 1578 to 1647. He served as the minister of the parish of Rainey in Ayrshire and played a significant role in the religious affairs of his time.

Another prominent figure was Sir Robert Shair, a Scottish landowner and politician who lived from 1642 to 1707. He served as a member of the Parliament of Scotland and was known for his involvement in the affairs of the Scottish nobility.

In the 17th century, the surname "SHAIR" also appeared in records related to the Scottish Covenanters, a group of Presbyterians who resisted the religious reforms imposed by the Stuart monarchs. This suggests that some individuals bearing this surname may have been involved in the religious and political struggles of that period.

During the 18th century, the name "SHAIR" continued to be found in various Scottish records, including parish registers and land ownership documents. One notable individual from this time was James Shair, a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who lived from 1738 to 1809. He made significant contributions to charitable causes in his community.

As the centuries progressed, the surname "SHAIR" spread beyond Scotland, with bearers of the name migrating to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to other parts of the world, such as North America and Australia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shair

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

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

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

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