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

Strawn, 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 Strawn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Strawn in America

Strawn is the 6373rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Strawn surname appeared 5,343 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Strawn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Strawn 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 Strawn

The surname Strawn is believed to have originated in the Scottish Lowlands during the medieval period, though its precise origins are uncertain. Some scholars suggest it may derive from the Gaelic word "stron," meaning a nose or promontory, indicating the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a distinctive landscape feature.

In early records, the name appears with various spellings, such as Stron, Strone, and Stroan, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in those times. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to Edward I of England.

The Strawn name is also associated with the Scottish Borders region, particularly the area around Roxburghshire. Historical documents from the 16th and 17th centuries mention individuals with this surname residing in towns like Jedburgh and Kelso.

One notable figure bearing the Strawn surname was James Strawn (1659-1722), a Scottish Presbyterian minister who served as the pastor of the Jedburgh Parish Church for over four decades. His sermons and writings were highly influential in the region during his lifetime.

Another prominent individual was Sir Robert Strawn (1776-1848), a Scottish businessman and landowner who made his fortune in the textile industry. He was known for his philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of a school for underprivileged children in his home town of Hawick.

In the 19th century, the Strawn name began to appear more frequently in North America, likely due to immigration from Scotland. One individual of note was William Strawn (1819-1894), an American businessman and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois.

Another individual of historical significance was Mary Strawn (1855-1932), an American educator and suffragist who campaigned for women's rights and played a crucial role in establishing several educational institutions in the state of Ohio.

While the Strawn surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with individuals bearing this name making notable contributions in various fields throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Strawn

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

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

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

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