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

Spaw, 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 Spaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spaw in America

Spaw is the 39212th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spaw surname appeared 561 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 Spaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Spaw 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 Spaw

The surname SPAW is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "spaw," which referred to a splinter or a chip of wood. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who worked with wood, such as a carpenter or a woodcutter.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SPAW surname can be found in the Domesday Book, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as "Spaw" in several entries, indicating its presence in various parts of the country.

During the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Spawe," "Spawe," and "Spauwe," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common in that era. These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

In the late 14th century, the SPAW surname is documented in the records of the city of York, where a certain John Spaw was mentioned as a resident. This historical reference suggests that the name had become established in urban areas by that time.

One notable individual bearing the SPAW surname was Sir Thomas Spaw (1460-1522), a knight and landowner from Lincolnshire. He served as a member of the Privy Council under King Henry VIII and played a significant role in the political affairs of his time.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Spaw (1585-1657), a Puritan woman who emigrated from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century. She is remembered for her involvement in the religious and social life of the colonial settlement.

In the 18th century, the name can be found in various parts of England, including London, where a certain William Spaw (1705-1778) was a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.

The SPAW surname also appears in historical records related to the town of Spaw, located in the county of Lancashire. This town's name may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.

Throughout its history, the SPAW surname has been associated with various occupations, including carpentry, woodworking, farming, and trade. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spaw

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

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

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

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