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

Sypher, 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 Sypher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sypher in America

Sypher is the 41359th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sypher surname appeared 526 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 Sypher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sypher 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 Sypher

The surname Sypher is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Norfolk, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "sifre," which means "sieve" or "strainer." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname given to someone who made or worked with sieves.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sypher can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk from the late 12th century, where a person named Walter Sifre is mentioned. This spelling variation provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, which referenced a John le Syvere. The prefix "le" was commonly used to indicate an occupation, further supporting the theory that the name was initially an occupational surname.

During the 14th century, the surname appeared in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire, where a Thomas Syfer was recorded. This variation in spelling highlights the fluidity of surnames during that period.

One notable individual with the surname Sypher was Sir John Sypher, a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in the 15th century. He was born in 1425 and became a respected figure in London's mercantile community.

In the 16th century, the surname was found in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, where a William Sypher was recorded as being baptized in 1562.

Another individual of note was Robert Sypher, a prominent farmer and landowner in the county of Gloucestershire in the late 16th century. He was born in 1550 and played a significant role in the local agricultural community.

In the 17th century, the surname appeared in the records of the Hearth Tax Rolls of Warwickshire, where a John Sypher was listed as a taxpayer in the village of Stratford-upon-Avon in 1670.

During the 18th century, the surname was found in the Baptismal Records of St. Peter's Church in Liverpool, where a Thomas Sypher was recorded as being baptized in 1712.

One notable figure from the 19th century was Sir William Sypher, a prominent British engineer and inventor. He was born in 1810 and made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines and industrial machinery.

Throughout its history, the surname Sypher has maintained its connection to its occupational origins, and while spelling variations have occurred, its essence has remained intact. The name continues to be carried by many families around the world, reflecting its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sypher

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

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

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

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