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

Sussex, 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 Sussex surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sussex in America

Sussex is the 78821st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sussex surname appeared 242 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 Sussex.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sussex 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 Sussex

The surname Sussex originated in the county of Sussex, England, in the Anglo-Saxon period. The name is derived from the Old English words "Sūþsēaxe," which translates to "South Saxons." This refers to the Saxon settlers who inhabited the area south of the River Thames in the 5th and 6th centuries.

Sussex was first recorded as a place name in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various forms, such as "Suthsexe" and "Suþsexe," reflecting the evolution of the language over time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Sussex was William de Sussex, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1194. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, documenting tax payments and other financial transactions.

Another notable bearer of the name was John Sussex, a 14th-century English landowner and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for Sussex in 1376 and held various positions in local government.

In the 16th century, Thomas Sussex (c. 1501-1551) was a prominent figure in the English Reformation. He was a Protestant reformer and a member of the Privy Council under King Edward VI.

During the 17th century, Robert Sussex (1638-1697) was an English clergyman and author. He served as the Archdeacon of Taunton and wrote several religious works, including "A Treatise on the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper."

In the 18th century, Sarah Sussex (1719-1795) was a notable English artist known for her portraiture and flower paintings. She was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists and exhibited her works regularly in London.

The surname Sussex has a rich history rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon settlements of southern England. While its geographical origins are well-documented, the name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries, contributing to the cultural and historical tapestry of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sussex

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

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

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

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