Shores
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near the coast or banks of a body of water.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 8,946 Americans carry the last name Shores. That puts it at #4,613 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.61 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 38,314 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Shores 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
8.9K
1 in 38,314
Census rank
#4,613
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
7.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 7,691 bearers of the surname Shores in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.61 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 4613th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Shores, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.5%. The next largest groups are Black (6.6%) and Hispanic (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Shores
The surname Shores has its origins in England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "scor," meaning a shore or bank, and was likely used as a descriptive name for someone who lived near the shore or coast.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shores can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1195, where a Richard de laShore is mentioned. This suggests that the name was initially used as a locational surname, indicating a person's place of residence.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as de la Shor, de la Shore, and de la Shora, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. The name was particularly prevalent in the coastal regions of southern England, including counties like Dorset, Hampshire, and Sussex.
The Hundred Rolls of 1273 record a John de la Shure in Wiltshire, while the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1327 mention a Thomas atte Shore, demonstrating the transition from the locational prefix "de la" to the more common "atte" form.
One notable figure bearing the Shores surname was Sir John Shores (c. 1450-1528), a wealthy merchant and influential figure in the city of Bristol during the reign of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He served as Sheriff of Bristol and was instrumental in the construction of the city's famous Frome Gate.
Another prominent individual was Samuel Shores (1641-1696), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Hartley Wespall in Hampshire. He published several works, including a treatise on the Book of Revelation.
In the 18th century, the Shores family had established themselves in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, where William Shores (1721-1798) was a notable landowner and philanthropist, contributing to the construction of schools and almshouses in the village of Easingwold.
The name Shores has also been found in historical records from Scotland, with instances such as Alexander Shores, who was granted land in the Barony of Glenapp in Ayrshire in the late 16th century.
A notable Scottish figure was John Shores (1751-1831), a prominent merchant and shipowner from Aberdeen, who played a significant role in the city's maritime trade during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Shores
Among Census respondents with the surname Shores, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.5%. The next largest groups are Black (6.6%) and Hispanic (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Shores 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 Shores surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.5%
- Black or African American6.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.8%
- Two or more races2.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Shores 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 | #4,453 | #4,613 | -3.6% |
| Count | 7,342 | 7,691 | 4.8% |
| Per 100K | 2.72 | 2.61 | -4.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Shores bearers went from 7,342 to 7,691 (+4.8% change). The surname moved down 160 positions in the national ranking, going from #4,453 to #4,613.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Shores
FAQ
Shores surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Shores?
The surname Shores holds position #4,613 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 8,946 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.61 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Shores surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Shores, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.5%. The next largest groups are Black (6.6%) and Hispanic (2.8%). 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.