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

Sheets, 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 Sheets surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sheets in America

Sheets is the 1685th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sheets surname appeared 21,384 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname Sheets.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sheets 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 Sheets

The surname "SHEETS" is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "sceat" or "sceatt," which referred to a small piece of land or a strip of land. This name likely first emerged in the 8th or 9th century AD, when the Anglo-Saxons were settling in various parts of England.

The name "SHEETS" may have originated in areas where the Anglo-Saxons established settlements, such as the counties of Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk. It is possible that the name was initially used as a descriptive term for someone who lived on or owned a small plot of land or a strip of land near a village or town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "SHEETS" can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name was in use by the late 11th century.

Over the centuries, the name "SHEETS" has undergone various spelling variations, such as "Sheat," "Shete," and "Sheit." These variations reflect the evolution of the English language and the regional dialects in which the name was pronounced and recorded.

Notable individuals with the surname "SHEETS" include:

1. John Sheets (1776-1858), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Ohio.
2. Mary Sheets (1887-1978), an American actress and vaudeville performer known for her roles in silent films.
3. Millard Sheets (1907-1989), an American artist and educator known for his works in various media, including painting, mosaic, and architectural design.
4. William Sheets (1819-1904), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana.
5. Robert Sheets (1936-2010), an American meteorologist and hurricane expert who worked for the National Hurricane Center.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who have borne the surname "SHEETS" throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sheets

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

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

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

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