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

Shawkey, 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 Shawkey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shawkey in America

Shawkey is the 99845th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shawkey surname appeared 181 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 Shawkey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shawkey 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 Shawkey

The surname Shawkey has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "sceaga" meaning "shaw" or small wood, and "ey" meaning island or raised ground. The name likely originated as a place name, referring to a settlement or area surrounded by small woods or situated on a raised island-like area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1275, where it appears as "de Shawey." This early spelling variation highlights the connection to the Old English roots and the place name origin.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records from Somerset and Dorset, suggesting the surname may have been particularly prevalent in the southern regions of England during this period. The Shawkey surname is also mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327, where it is spelled "Shawkye."

Throughout the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Shawky, Shawkie, and Shockey, reflecting regional dialects and phonetic adaptations.

Historically, the Shawkey surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John Shawkey, born in 1545 in Gloucestershire, who was a prominent landowner and magistrate in the region.

In the 17th century, Thomas Shawkey (1627-1692) was a respected clergyman and author from Somerset, known for his religious writings and sermons.

During the 19th century, Joseph Shawkey (1812-1887), born in Wiltshire, made a name for himself as a skilled architect and was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London.

In the early 20th century, William Shawkey (1874-1952), a native of Dorset, gained recognition as a pioneering educator and served as the President of the University of Southern California from 1923 to 1935.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Shawkey (1892-1978), a renowned artist and painter from Somerset, whose works were exhibited in various galleries across England and gained critical acclaim.

The Shawkey surname has a rich history deeply rooted in the English countryside, with its origins tracing back to place names and settlements surrounded by small woods or raised ground. The name has endured through the centuries, with various spelling variations and several notable individuals bearing this distinctive surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shawkey

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

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

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

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