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

Shirey, 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 Shirey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shirey in America

Shirey is the 5757th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shirey surname appeared 6,020 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Shirey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shirey 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 Shirey

The surname Shirey has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from an Old English word "scir," meaning "bright" or "shining." Alternatively, it may have originated from the Old English word "sciran," meaning "to divide or separate," which could have referred to a boundary or a piece of land.

In its early stages, the name was often spelled as "Shyre" or "Shire," reflecting its connection to the English counties or shires. It is possible that the name was initially adopted by individuals who lived near or worked on a particular shire or county boundary.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Shirey can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire, a census-like record from 1273. This document mentions a certain "Walter de la Shyre," indicating the presence of the surname in the region during that period.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive land survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Shirey surname. However, it does mention various place names with similar spellings, such as "Sciran" and "Scireburn," suggesting potential connections to the name's origin.

Notable individuals throughout history with the surname Shirey include:

1. John Shirey (c. 1550 - 1612), an English merchant and explorer who traveled to the Americas and is believed to have been among the first English settlers in Virginia.

2. William Shirey (1672 - 1745), a prominent landowner and politician in colonial Pennsylvania, known for his involvement in local government affairs.

3. Elizabeth Shirey (1792 - 1867), an American educator and philanthropist who founded several schools and orphanages in Ohio.

4. James Shirey (1819 - 1897), a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, who fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Gettysburg.

5. Emma Shirey (1884 - 1963), a British author and journalist who wrote extensively about women's rights and social issues in the early 20th century.

The Shirey surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Shirey Green in Oxfordshire and Shirey Hill in Shropshire, further highlighting its historical roots in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shirey

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

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

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

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