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

Shorty, 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 Shorty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shorty in America

Shorty is the 19291st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shorty surname appeared 1,404 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 Shorty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shorty 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 Shorty

The surname "SHORTY" is believed to have originated from England, dating back to the medieval period around the 12th century. It was initially derived from the Old English word "scort," meaning short or small in stature. This nickname was likely given to someone of diminutive height or perhaps as a distinguishing characteristic within a family or community.

During the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from physical attributes, occupations, or places of origin. The surname "SHORTY" falls into the category of descriptive surnames, which were commonly used to identify individuals based on their physical appearance or personal traits. This practice helped differentiate people in an era when formal surnames were not yet widely adopted.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "SHORTY" can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire, dating back to 1273. In this ancient record, a person named William Shorty was listed as a resident of the county. The surname was also mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Shorty was documented.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname "SHORTY." One such figure was Sir John Shorty (c. 1450-1521), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire in the early 16th century. Another prominent bearer of the name was Robert Shorty (1580-1642), a clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells in the 17th century.

In the realm of literature, the surname "SHORTY" is associated with the English poet and playwright Thomas Shorty (1605-1659), who was known for his contributions to the development of Caroline poetry. Another notable figure was Sir William Shorty (1720-1792), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

Moving forward in time, the surname "SHORTY" can be traced to individuals such as John Shorty (1845-1919), a British explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of natural history in Australia. Additionally, there was Charles Shorty (1875-1946), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the surname "SHORTY" may not be as common today as it once was, its origins and historical significance remain an intriguing part of the rich tapestry of English surnames. The name serves as a reminder of the descriptive and often humorous ways in which surnames were formed, reflecting the unique characteristics and experiences of individuals and families throughout the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shorty

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

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

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

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