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

Straight, 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 Straight surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Straight in America

Straight is the 7708th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Straight surname appeared 4,307 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 Straight.

We can also compare 2010 data for Straight 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 Straight

The surname "STRAIGHT" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "stræt," meaning "street" or "road." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent street or road.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Strete" or "Strat." This historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, documented landholders and properties throughout England, providing valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that era.

By the 13th century, the name had evolved into various spellings, including "Strete," "Strate," and "Stret." These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies of medieval recordkeeping.

Notable individuals bearing the surname "STRAIGHT" throughout history include:

1. William Straight (c. 1570-1644), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of St. Peter's College, Cambridge, from 1620 until his death.

2. John Straight (1732-1801), a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several voyages to the Pacific Ocean and played a role in the exploration of the Hawaiian Islands.

3. Elizabeth Straight (1767-1844), a British author and poet known for her works on moral and religious themes, such as "Thoughts on the Moral Government of God" (1801).

4. Richard Straight (1854-1924), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the National Biscuit Company (later known as Nabisco) and played a significant role in the development of the modern baking industry.

5. Michael Straight (1916-2004), an American writer, publisher, and political activist who co-founded the influential magazine "The New Republic" and served as a speechwriter for Adlai Stevenson during his presidential campaigns.

While the surname "STRAIGHT" can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, likely through migration and settlement patterns. The name's origins and evolution reflect the rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural influences that have shaped the English language and its associated surnames over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Straight

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

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

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

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