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

Shermer, 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 Shermer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shermer in America

Shermer is the 34916th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shermer surname appeared 646 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 Shermer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shermer 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 Shermer

The surname Shermer is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and it is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "scir," which means "bright" or "shining," and the word "mere," which means "a lake or a pool." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a bright or shining lake or pool.

The earliest known record of the name Shermer dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273. This document was a census-like record of landowners and their possessions, and it provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of surnames in medieval England.

In the 14th century, the name Shermer appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327, which was a taxation record. This indicates that the name was well-established in the region by that time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Shermer was John Shermer, who was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, in the late 15th century. He was a merchant and landowner, and his descendants continued to live in the area for several generations.

Another notable bearer of the Shermer surname was William Shermer, who was born in Gloucestershire in the mid-16th century. He was a member of the gentry and held significant landholdings in the county.

In the 17th century, the name Shermer appeared in the parish records of several English counties, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Derbyshire. This suggests that the surname had spread geographically by that time.

One of the most prominent individuals with the surname Shermer was Sir Thomas Shermer, who was born in Gloucestershire in the early 17th century. He was a wealthy landowner and served as a member of Parliament for the county in the 1640s.

Another notable bearer of the Shermer surname was John Shermer, who was born in Lincolnshire in the late 17th century. He was a renowned scholar and author, and his works on theology and philosophy were widely read and influential during his lifetime.

The surname Shermer has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Shermer's Green in Hertfordshire and Shermer's Hill in Dorset. These place names likely originated from the presence of families with the Shermer surname in those areas.

Overall, the surname Shermer has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England. Its origins are rooted in the Anglo-Saxon language, and it has been borne by numerous individuals of note throughout the centuries, including landowners, scholars, and members of the gentry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shermer

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

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

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

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