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

Sonson, 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 Sonson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sonson in America

Sonson is the 77522nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sonson surname appeared 247 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 Sonson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sonson 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 Sonson

The surname Sonson is of English origin, emerging in the late 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name, referring to someone who hailed from a place called "Sonson" or a variation thereof. Records show the name was initially found in Yorkshire, suggesting the name may have derived from a now-lost or obscure place name in that region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sonson surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1190, where a certain Robert Sonson is mentioned. This indicates the name was already well-established by the late 12th century. Similar spellings from this era include Sonnesone, Sonneson, and Sonnesoun.

During the 13th century, the Sonson name can be found in various records across Northern England. For instance, a Roger Sonson is listed in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire from 1260. Additionally, a William Sonson is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273.

As the centuries progressed, the Sonson surname spread to other parts of England. In 1433, a John Sonson is mentioned in the Calender of Letter Books of London. This suggests the name had become established in the capital by the 15th century.

Notable bearers of the Sonson surname throughout history include:

1. Thomas Sonson (c. 1530 - 1593), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in 1589.

2. Richard Sonson (1587 - 1655), an English writer and poet known for his satirical works during the reign of King Charles I.

3. Elizabeth Sonson (1670 - 1738), a prominent Quaker minister and author from Yorkshire, known for her influential sermons and tracts.

4. John Sonson (1727 - 1804), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

5. Mary Sonson (1819 - 1898), a philanthropist and social reformer from Lancashire, who devoted her life to improving working conditions and education for underprivileged children.

While the Sonson surname may have originated from a specific location, over time it became widely dispersed throughout England, with various bearers making their mark in different fields and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sonson

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

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

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

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