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

Stocking, 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 Stocking surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stocking in America

Stocking is the 14215th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stocking surname appeared 2,111 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 Stocking.

We can also compare 2010 data for Stocking 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 Stocking

The surname STOCKING is of English origin, derived from the occupation of a maker or seller of stockings, which were knitted or woven coverings for the leg. The name can be traced back to the late 13th century, when trade and craft guilds were forming in England.

The name is believed to have originated in the Midlands region of England, particularly in areas like Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, where the hosiery industry was prevalent. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Leicestershire from 1327, which mentions a John le Stockinger.

During the medieval period, surnames derived from occupations were common, as they helped distinguish individuals who shared the same given name. The STOCKING surname likely referred to someone who specialized in the production or sale of stockings, which were a valuable commodity at the time.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a William Stokkyng was mentioned in 1437. The spelling variations reflect the evolution of the English language and the inconsistencies in recording names during that era.

One notable bearer of the STOCKING surname was Sir Samuel Stocking (1660-1717), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1705. He was born in London and was a member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, a livery company in the City of London.

Another prominent figure was Richard Stocking (1766-1844), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in Shropshire and rose to the rank of Admiral in the Royal Navy, commanding several ships throughout his career.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the STOCKING surname was William Stocking, who was born around 1605 in England and emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1630s. He settled in the town of Middletown, Connecticut, and his descendants can be traced throughout New England.

Other notable individuals with the STOCKING surname include Joseph Stocking (1789-1880), an American politician and judge from New York, and Caroline Cynthia Stocking (1861-1935), an American educator and author who wrote extensively on child development and psychology.

While the STOCKING surname may not be as common today as it was in the past, it continues to hold a rich history and connection to the textile and clothing industries that were once vital to the economies of England and other parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stocking

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

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

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

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