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

Sharon, 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 Sharon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sharon in America

Sharon is the 9598th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sharon surname appeared 3,385 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 Sharon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sharon 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 Sharon

The surname Sharon has its origins in the Middle Ages, tracing back to the medieval English county of Shropshire. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "scir," meaning "bright" or "shining." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive moniker, possibly referring to an individual's bright or radiant appearance.

Sharon likely evolved from the place name "Sharon," a village located in the parish of Condover, Shropshire. The earliest recorded mention of this place name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Scharhuen." Over time, the spelling gradually transformed into its present form.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Sharon was William de Sharon, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire in 1202. These rolls were financial records maintained by the Exchequer, documenting the collection of taxes and other revenues.

In the 14th century, the Sharon surname appeared in various spellings, including "Sharron," "Sharoun," and "Sharrone." This variation in spelling was common during this period, as standardized spelling conventions had not yet been established.

A notable figure bearing the Sharon surname was Sir John Sharon, a Member of Parliament for Shropshire in the late 15th century. He was born around 1440 and served as a knight of the shire (a representative of a county in the House of Commons) during the reigns of King Edward IV and King Richard III.

Another individual of historical significance was Robert Sharon, a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 16th century. He was born around 1520 and played a prominent role in the affairs of the city, serving as Lord Mayor of London in 1586.

In the 17th century, the Sharon family had established itself in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. One notable member from this period was Edward Sharon, a renowned clockmaker who lived in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in the latter half of the 17th century. His clocks were highly regarded for their craftsmanship and precision.

Another noteworthy individual was John Sharon, a Puritan minister who emigrated from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1630s. He served as the pastor of the church in Fairfield, Connecticut, and played a significant role in the religious and community life of the colony.

In the 18th century, the Sharon surname continued to be found in various parts of England, as well as in the American colonies. One notable figure from this period was James Sharon, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in 1745 and participated in several naval battles against the American colonists.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sharon

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

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

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

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