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

Tarr, 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 Tarr surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tarr in America

Tarr is the 5006th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tarr surname appeared 7,021 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Tarr.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tarr 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 Tarr

The surname "TARR" is believed to have originated in Scotland, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "tor," meaning a rocky hill or peak, suggesting that the name may have been initially used to identify people who lived near or on a tor or rocky outcrop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of instruments of homage and fealty made by Scottish nobles and landowners to King Edward I of England. In these rolls, the name appears as "Tarre" and "Tarre de Strauen."

The name also appears in various historical records and manuscripts from the 13th to 16th centuries, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where it is spelled "Tarr" and "Tarre." These records suggest that the name was concentrated in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.

One notable bearer of the name was John Tarr, a Scottish clergyman and academic who lived from 1508 to 1570. He served as the Principal of St. Leonard's College in St. Andrews and was a prominent figure in the Scottish Reformation.

In the 17th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of the British Isles, with records showing individuals named Tarr in England and Ireland. One notable example is William Tarr, an English soldier and military engineer who lived from 1675 to 1737. He served as the Chief Engineer of Great Britain and played a crucial role in the construction of fortifications during the War of the Spanish Succession.

Another notable bearer of the name was Robert Tarr, an English clergyman and writer who lived from 1688 to 1756. He was the author of several books, including "The Doctrine of the Holy Eucharist" and "The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire."

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the name Tarr continued to be found in various parts of the British Isles, with some bearers of the name migrating to other parts of the world, including the United States and Canada. One notable figure was William Tarr, an American sea captain and merchant who lived from 1772 to 1856. He was involved in the China trade and amassed a considerable fortune, which he used to establish several charitable institutions in his hometown of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Another notable bearer of the name was John Tarr, an English artist and engraver who lived from 1792 to 1851. He was known for his landscape paintings and engravings, and his works can be found in several museums and collections in the United Kingdom.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tarr

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

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

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

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