2000
#147,095
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Syren
A variant spelling of the Greek mythological figure, a siren known for enticing sailors with bewitching song.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Syren. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Syren surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Syren in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Syren, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Syren
The surname "SYREN" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "syr" and "en," which together mean "a person who lived near the marshes or wetlands." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name likely resided in areas with significant marshland or wetland habitats.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "SYREN" can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Syrenus," which is likely an early variation of the modern spelling.
In the 14th century, records show individuals with the surname "SYREN" residing in various regions of England, including the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. These areas were known for their extensive marshlands and wetlands, further supporting the theory that the name originated as a descriptor for those living in such environments.
One notable bearer of the surname "SYREN" was John Syren (c. 1380-1448), a prominent landowner and merchant from the town of Great Yarmouth, located in Norfolk. He was known for his involvement in the local wool trade and served as a member of the town council.
Another individual of note was William Syren (c. 1520-1589), a scholar and clergyman from Lincolnshire. He attended the University of Cambridge and later became the rector of a parish church in his home county.
In the 17th century, the surname "SYREN" appeared in various spellings, including "Siren," "Syrene," and "Syryn." One example is Thomas Syrene (1612-1678), a wealthy merchant and ship-owner from the port city of Bristol. He was known for his extensive trade with the American colonies and his involvement in the local business community.
During the 18th century, the surname "SYREN" continued to be found throughout England, particularly in areas with strong ties to agriculture and rural life. One notable bearer from this period was Mary Syren (1735-1802), a renowned herbalist and healer from the village of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire.
In the 19th century, the surname "SYREN" began to spread more widely across England and into other parts of the British Isles. One example is James Syren (1819-1892), a Scottish-born engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines and locomotives.
Throughout its history, the surname "SYREN" has been associated with various place names and locations, often reflecting the marshy or wetland environments where its earliest bearers resided. Examples include the village of Syresham in Northamptonshire and the town of Syrencote in Gloucestershire.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Syren
Among Census respondents with the surname Syren, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Syren bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Syren surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.8% · 95
- Hispanic or Latino4.7% · 5
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.7% · 4
- Black or African American1.9% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Syren
Syren appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
+5 bearers (+4.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 4,437 places
2020
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
-1 bearers (-0.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 107 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #147,095 | 103 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.9%) | Down 4,437 places |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | -1 bearers (-0.9%) | Down 107 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Syren surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #151,532 | #151,639 | -0.1% |
| Count | 108 | 107 | -0.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -10.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Syren bearers went from 108 to 107 (-0.9% change). The surname moved down 107 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #151,639.
FAQ
Syren surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Syren?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Syren. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Syren?
Syren ranks #151,639 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 107 people with the surname Syren. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Syren.
Has Syren become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Syren went from 108 recorded bearers to 107. That is a decrease of 1 (-0.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #151,532 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Syren?
Among Census respondents with the surname Syren, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Syren in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.8% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Syren appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.8%), Hispanic (4.7%), American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Syren (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Syren mean?
A variant spelling of the Greek mythological figure, a siren known for enticing sailors with bewitching song. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Syren (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Syren?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the surname Syren on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.