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

Sur, 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 Sur surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sur in America

Sur is the 32865th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sur surname appeared 698 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 Sur.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sur 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 Sur

The surname "Sur" has its origins in France, where it can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "sour," meaning "brown" or "tawny." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone with a particular hair or complexion color.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sur can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The document mentions a landowner named Roger Sur in the county of Hertfordshire.

During the 12th century, the name Sur appeared in various forms, such as Sor, Sore, and Sour, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in that era. Notable bearers of the name from this period include Guillaume Sur, a knight who participated in the Third Crusade under King Richard the Lionheart (1157-1199).

As the surname spread across France, it became associated with certain regions and place names. In the Normandy region, for instance, the name Sur was linked to the town of Suremont, leading to the variant surname Suremont-Sur.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Sur surname in England dates back to the 13th century, when Robert Sur was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1201. During this time, the name also appeared in various spellings, such as Surre and Surreys.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Sur, including:

1. Jean Sur (c. 1400-1470), a French architect and sculptor known for his work on the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris.
2. Marie Sur (c. 1525-1590), a French noblewoman and author of the influential treatise "Sur l'éducation des filles" (On the Education of Girls).
3. Jacques Sur (1592-1657), a French mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of calculus.
4. Antoine Sur (1670-1737), a French painter renowned for his religious and historical works, many of which adorned churches and palaces across Europe.
5. Louise Sur (1810-1876), a French educator and pioneer in the field of early childhood education, who founded several influential schools in Paris.

The surname Sur has a rich history that spans centuries and reflects the diverse cultural influences that have shaped France over time. While its precise origins may be difficult to pinpoint, the name continues to hold significance as a link to the country's past and a testament to the enduring legacy of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sur

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!