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

Sisk, 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 Sisk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sisk in America

Sisk is the 2901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sisk surname appeared 12,365 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Sisk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sisk 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 Sisk

The surname Sisk is believed to have originated in Ireland, likely during the 16th or 17th century. It is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "siosc," meaning "sedge" or "rush," which were types of marsh plants commonly found in the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Petty's Census of Ireland, conducted in 1659. This census listed several individuals with the surname Sisk, primarily concentrated in counties such as Cork, Kerry, and Limerick.

There are records of a Richard Sisk, born around 1620, who was a landowner in County Cork during the mid-17th century. He is mentioned in several land deeds and property records from that time period.

In the late 18th century, a prominent figure named John Sisk (1738-1811) was a successful merchant and shipping magnate based in the city of Cork. He was known for his involvement in the transatlantic trade between Ireland and the American colonies.

During the 19th century, the surname Sisk became more widespread throughout Ireland. One notable individual was Michael Sisk (1829-1901), a renowned educator and headmaster of several schools in County Cork.

In more recent history, a famous bearer of the Sisk surname was Sir Robert Sisk (1903-1980), a British businessman and construction magnate. He founded the company now known as Sisk Group, one of the largest construction firms in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Other individuals of note with the last name Sisk include the American author and poet, Jacqueline Sisk (1924-2002), and the Irish-born Australian politician, David Sisk (1936-2010), who served as a member of the Australian Senate.

While the exact origins of the surname Sisk are not definitively known, it is widely believed to have originated in Ireland, likely stemming from the Irish word "siosc" and its association with marsh plants. The name has been recorded in various historical records and documents over the centuries, with several notable individuals bearing the surname making significant contributions in fields such as business, education, and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sisk

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

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

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

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