Sherry
A locational surname referring to people from Chéry, France, or an occupational name for a tender of oxen.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 8,432 Americans carry the last name Sherry. That puts it at #4,846 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.46 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 40,649 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sherry surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
8.4K
1 in 40,649
Census rank
#4,846
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
7.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 7,271 bearers of the surname Sherry in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.46 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 4846th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sherry, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Black (2.2%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sherry
The surname Sherry is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "scir," meaning "bright" or "shining." It is believed to have originated in the county of Surrey, England, where it was initially used as a descriptive name for someone with a fair complexion or shining appearance.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Sherry can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Scireman," indicating a person from the shire or county. During the Middle Ages, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Schirrye, Schirrey, and Shurry, before settling on the modern form of Sherry.
One notable historical figure bearing the Sherry surname was Sir Richard Sherry, born in 1505 in Devon, England. He was a prominent lawyer and served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another early bearer of the name was John Sherry, a merchant from Bristol, England, who was active in the 16th century and is credited with introducing the fortified wine known as sherry to England from Spain.
In the 17th century, the name Sherry was associated with the town of Sherrington in Wiltshire, England, which was formerly known as Sherryngton. This place name connection likely contributed to the prevalence of the surname in that region.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Sherry surname was William Sherry, born in 1620 in Sherrington, Wiltshire. He later emigrated to the American colonies and settled in Virginia, becoming one of the first bearers of the name in the New World.
Another notable figure was Robert Sherry, born in 1675 in Somerset, England. He was a renowned scholar and linguist, known for his translations of Persian poetry and his contributions to the study of Eastern languages.
In the 18th century, the name Sherry gained prominence in Scotland, where it was associated with the town of Sherry in Aberdeenshire. One prominent Scottish bearer of the name was Andrew Sherry, born in 1740, who served as a military officer during the American Revolutionary War.
As the Sherry surname spread across the United Kingdom and later to other parts of the world, it became associated with various occupations and professions. In the 19th century, notable individuals with this surname included the English painter John Sherry, born in 1805, and the American lawyer and politician Benjamin Sherry, born in 1825 in New York.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sherry
Among Census respondents with the surname Sherry, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Black (2.2%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Sherry bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Sherry surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.1%
- Black or African American2.2%
- Hispanic or Latino2.1%
- Two or more races1.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Sherry surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,505 | #4,846 | -7.6% |
| Count | 7,253 | 7,271 | 0.2% |
| Per 100K | 2.69 | 2.46 | -8.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Sherry bearers went from 7,253 to 7,271 (+0.2% change). The surname moved down 341 positions in the national ranking, going from #4,505 to #4,846.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Sherry
FAQ
Sherry surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Sherry?
The surname Sherry holds position #4,846 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 8,432 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.46 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Sherry surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sherry, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Black (2.2%) and Hispanic (2.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.