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

Shaw, 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 Shaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shaw in America

Shaw is the 164th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shaw surname appeared 160,400 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 54 people would have the surname Shaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shaw 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 Shaw

The surname Shaw originated in England and Scotland. It is derived from the Old English word 'sceaga', meaning a small wood or thicket. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in a small wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shaw appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled 'Sciua'. This suggests the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest. Over time, the spelling evolved to its current form of Shaw.

During the Middle Ages, various spellings of the name emerged, such as Schagh, Schaw, Shawe, and Shagh. These variations were often used interchangeably and reflected regional dialects and scribal preferences.

The name Shaw is also associated with several place names in England, such as Shaw Hill in Wiltshire, Shaw in Berkshire, and Shaw in Lancashire. These place names likely influenced the development of the surname as people adopted the name of their place of residence or origin.

One notable figure bearing the surname Shaw was John Shaw (c. 1615-1672), an English Baptist minister and writer. He was a prominent figure in the early Baptist movement and authored several religious works.

Another historical figure was Sir John Shaw (1776-1832), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He distinguished himself in various battles and was knighted for his service.

In Scotland, the Shaw surname is associated with the Clan Shaw, a Highland Scottish clan with roots in Aberdeenshire. One famous member of this clan was Alexander Shaw (1554-1594), a Scottish philosopher and academic who served as the principal of the University of Aberdeen.

William Shaw (1559-1637), an English clergyman and author, is also noteworthy. He served as the Dean of Bristol and wrote several religious works, including "A Practical Discourse of the Lord's Supper."

John Shaw (1776-1832), a British architect, is known for his work on several prominent buildings in London, including the Church of St. Dunstan-in-the-West and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Shaw, reflecting its long-standing presence in England, Scotland, and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shaw

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

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

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

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