Stairs
An English surname derived from the word "stair" referring to an occupation of building or maintaining stairs.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,371 Americans carry the last name Stairs. That puts it at #21,811 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.40 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 250,003 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Stairs surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.4K
1 in 250,003
Census rank
#21,811
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,192 bearers of the surname Stairs in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.40 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 21811th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Stairs, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.1%) and Black (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Stairs
The surname "STAIRS" is believed to have originated in Scotland, with the earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is likely derived from an old Scottish word or place name related to stairs or a stairway, possibly referring to a person who lived near or worked with stairs.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Scottish Catholic Archives from 1587, which mentions a "John Stairs" from the parish of Leith, near Edinburgh. It's possible that this individual was involved in the construction or maintenance of staircases or worked in a profession related to stairs.
Another historical reference to the surname "STAIRS" comes from the Parish Records of St. Andrews, Fife, from the early 17th century, where a "Margaret Stairs" is mentioned in an entry dated 1612. This suggests that the name had spread to other parts of Scotland by that time.
In the 18th century, the surname appears in various records from the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire. One notable individual from this period was Robert Stairs (1720-1789), a Scottish merchant and landowner who owned estates in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire.
As the centuries progressed, the name began to appear in other parts of the British Isles and beyond, likely due to migration and immigration. One example is William Stairs (1789-1865), an English-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia.
Another significant figure with the surname "STAIRS" was Sir Charles Stairs (1832-1919), a British diplomat and diplomat who served as the British Minister to Portugal and Brazil. He was born in Oxfordshire, England, but his family's roots can be traced back to Scotland.
In the 20th century, one notable individual with the surname "STAIRS" was Sir Patrick Stairs (1876-1955), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Stairs Memorial Trust, which provided educational opportunities for underprivileged children in Nova Scotia.
While the surname "STAIRS" may not be as prevalent as some other Scottish surnames, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been carried by individuals of note in various fields, from business and politics to diplomacy and philanthropy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Stairs
Among Census respondents with the surname Stairs, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.1%) and Black (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Stairs bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Stairs surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.5%
- Two or more races1.1%
- Black or African American1.0%
- Hispanic or Latino1.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Stairs surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,295 | #21,811 | -2.4% |
| Count | 1,147 | 1,192 | 3.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.43 | 0.40 | -7.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Stairs bearers went from 1,147 to 1,192 (+3.9% change). The surname moved down 516 positions in the national ranking, going from #21,295 to #21,811.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Stairs
FAQ
Stairs surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Stairs?
The surname Stairs holds position #21,811 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,371 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.40 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Stairs surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Stairs, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.1%) and Black (1.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.