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

Sproul, 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 Sproul surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sproul in America

Sproul is the 10739th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sproul surname appeared 2,972 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Sproul.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sproul 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 Sproul

The surname Sproul is of Scottish origin, derived from the word "sproul" or "sproull," which is believed to come from the Old English word "sprogga" or "sprogge," meaning a sprout or young shoot. This name is thought to have originated as a nickname for someone with a slender or youthful appearance.

The name Sproul is most commonly found in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire. It is believed that the earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, though its exact origins are uncertain.

One of the earliest documented examples of the Sproul surname is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The name appears as "Spreul" in this record.

Another notable early reference to the Sproul name is in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 14th century, where a "Thomas Sprowell" is mentioned as a tenant farmer in the county of Lanarkshire.

Throughout the centuries, the Sproul surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Sproull, Sproulle, Sprowell, and Sprowle. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of individual scribes.

One of the most notable individuals with the Sproul surname was Sir James Sproul (c. 1530-1599), a Scottish landowner and political figure who served as the Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1587 to 1589.

Another prominent figure was Sir John Sproul (1619-1683), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as the Lord President of the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland.

In the 18th century, James Sproul (1725-1803) was a Scottish merchant and banker who established the first private banking institution in Glasgow.

In the United States, William Sproul (1870-1928) was a prominent politician who served as the Governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1923.

More recently, Robert Sproul (1891-1975) was an American educator and the 11th President of the University of California system from 1930 to 1958.

While the Sproul surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with notable bearers in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. The name continues to carry a rich history and legacy, reflecting the resilience and accomplishments of those who have borne it throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sproul

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

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

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

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