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

Staples, 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 Staples surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Staples in America

Staples is the 2104th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Staples surname appeared 17,217 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Staples.

We can also compare 2010 data for Staples 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 Staples

The surname Staples is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "stapol," which referred to a post, pillar, or stake. It likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a prominent post or marker, or possibly as an occupational name for a maker or seller of stakes or posts.

The earliest known record of the Staples surname dates back to the late 12th century, where it appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1199 as "Thomas de Stapeles." This suggests that the name may have originated in the northern English county of Yorkshire.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Stapel," "Stapele," and "Stapeles," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that period.

The Staples surname is also found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landholders in England at the time. This suggests that the name was well-established by the late 13th century.

One notable early bearer of the Staples surname was Sir Richard Staples (c. 1460-1528), a prominent English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1494-1495. He was also a member of the influential Worshipful Company of Mercers.

Another significant figure was Walter Staples (c. 1505-1558), an English Protestant reformer and bishop who played a role in the English Reformation under King Edward VI. He served as Bishop of Meath in Ireland from 1550 until his death.

In the 17th century, the name Staples appeared in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire. One notable individual from this period was Sir John Staples (1631-1689), an English politician and landowner who served as Member of Parliament for Taunton.

The name Staples has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Staples Hill in Bristol and Staples Road in Loughborough, further reinforcing its connection to the Old English word "stapol."

Another prominent bearer of the Staples surname was Sir Robert Staples (1675-1738), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Westminster. He was also a director of the Bank of England and the East India Company.

Throughout history, the Staples surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, politicians, clergymen, and landowners, reflecting the diverse origins and roles associated with this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Staples

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

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

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

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