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

Tee, 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 Tee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tee in America

Tee is the 17951st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tee surname appeared 1,557 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Tee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tee 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 Tee

The surname Tee has its origins in the United Kingdom, specifically in England and Scotland. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "teg," which means a small enclosed field or pasture. This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived near or worked on such a field.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tee can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Tege." This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence in England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname Tee appeared in various forms, such as "Tye," "Ty," and "Tey," reflecting the spelling variations common during that time. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

The name Tee has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was John Tee, a prominent English clergyman born in 1553, who served as the Bishop of Salisbury from 1620 until his death in 1626.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Thomas Tee, an English composer and organist who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is known for his contributions to the music of the Anglican Church during the Elizabethan era.

In Scotland, the Tee surname has a strong connection to the town of Arbroath, where it is believed to have originated. One notable Scot with this surname was Alexander Tee, born in 1736, who was a renowned mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1783.

The name Tee has also been associated with various place names, such as Tye Green in Essex, England, and Tees Valley in northern England. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Another historical figure bearing the surname Tee was William Tee, born in 1670, who was a prominent English architect and surveyor. He played a significant role in the rebuilding efforts following the Great Fire of London in 1666, contributing to the design and construction of several notable buildings in the city.

While the surname Tee may not be among the most common surnames today, it has a rich history and strong roots in the United Kingdom, particularly in England and Scotland. The name's origins as a descriptive term for a small field or pasture reflect the agricultural heritage of the regions where it originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tee

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

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

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

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