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

Stencil, 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 Stencil surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stencil in America

Stencil is the 44034th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stencil surname appeared 489 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 Stencil.

We can also compare 2010 data for Stencil 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 Stencil

The surname STENCIL is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "stencel," which means a small passage or opening, and was often used to refer to a narrow alleyway or lane.

In medieval times, many people were identified by their place of residence or occupation, and it is possible that the STENCIL surname was first given to someone who lived near a stencel or worked as a maker of stencils for decorative purposes. The name may have also been used to describe someone who lived in a particularly narrow or confined space.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the STENCIL name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a survey of landholders in the county conducted in 1273. The entry mentions a "Robert de Stencele," suggesting that the name was already in use by that time.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various spellings, such as "Stencel," "Stencele," and "Stencill," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling that were common during that period.

One notable bearer of the STENCIL name was John Stencil, a merchant and alderman in the city of London who lived in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in several historical records, including the City of London's Letter Books, which document his involvement in local government and trade affairs.

In the 16th century, the STENCIL surname can be found in various parish records and tax rolls. For example, a William Stencill was listed as a resident of Stratford-upon-Avon in 1568, the same town where William Shakespeare was born.

Another prominent figure with the STENCIL name was Sir Edward Stencil, a Member of Parliament for the borough of Southwark in the late 17th century. He was actively involved in the political affairs of the time and is mentioned in several historical accounts and parliamentary records.

During the 18th century, the STENCIL surname became more widespread, with bearers of the name living in various parts of England and Wales. One notable individual was Thomas Stencil, a poet and playwright who was born in Bristol in 1736. His works, though not widely known today, were popular in his time and provide insight into the literary and cultural trends of the period.

As the centuries passed, the STENCIL name continued to be found in various regions of the United Kingdom, with variations in spelling and pronunciation. Today, it remains a relatively uncommon surname, but its long history and connection to English heritage make it a fascinating subject for genealogical and onomastic research.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stencil

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

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

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

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