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

Strife, 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 Strife surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Strife in America

Strife is the 80678th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Strife surname appeared 235 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 Strife.

We can also compare 2010 data for Strife 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 Strife

The surname "STRIFE" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "stríf," which means conflict, quarrel, or struggle. The name likely referred to a person who was known for their contentious or combative nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from the late 13th century. In this document, a person named William Stryve is mentioned, which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the name.

During the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including Stryff, Stryfe, and Strive, in several historical records from different parts of England. For example, in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, a man named John Stryfe is listed.

The Domesday Book, a renowned survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname "STRIFE." However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the development of the surname, such as Styventon (now Steventon) in Berkshire and Stritton (now Stratton) in Cornwall.

One notable figure with the surname "STRIFE" was William Strife, a successful merchant and landowner who lived in the late 15th century. He was born in Somerset in 1452 and is recorded as owning substantial properties in the county.

Another individual of historical significance was Sir Thomas Strife, a military commander who served under King Henry VIII during the 16th century. He played a significant role in the English campaigns against Scotland and France, and was knighted for his service in 1544.

In the 17th century, a man named John Strife gained recognition as a skilled architect. He was responsible for the design and construction of several churches and manor houses in the counties of Essex and Suffolk between 1620 and 1650.

During the 18th century, a prominent figure with the surname "STRIFE" was Elizabeth Strife, a renowned author and poet. She was born in London in 1722 and published several critically acclaimed works, including a collection of poems titled "Reflections on Life and Love" in 1760.

Finally, in the 19th century, a notable bearer of the surname was Sir George Strife, a British explorer and naturalist. He embarked on several expeditions to Africa and South America between 1820 and 1845, documenting numerous plant and animal species, and contributing significantly to the field of natural history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Strife

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

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

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

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