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

Tempest, 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 Tempest surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tempest in America

Tempest is the 37229th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tempest surname appeared 599 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 Tempest.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tempest 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 Tempest

The surname Tempest has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "tempeste," meaning a violent storm or tempest. This suggests that the name may have been originally given as a nickname to someone with a fierce or tempestuous personality.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Tempest name can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "de Tempest," indicating that it was initially a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a place prone to storms or tempests.

In the 13th century, the Tempest family held lands in Yorkshire, particularly in the area around Bracewell and Waddington. Sir Richard Tempest (c. 1210-1275) was a prominent member of this family and served as a soldier and landowner during the reign of King Henry III.

As the surname spread across England, it took on various spellings, such as Tempeste and Tempeste. One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Tempest (c. 1415-1491), a Yorkshire knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses and was a supporter of the House of Lancaster.

In the 16th century, the Tempest family gained further prominence with Sir Thomas Tempest (c. 1500-1567), who was knighted by King Henry VIII and served as a Member of Parliament. He was also a wealthy landowner and built the impressive Bracewell Hall in Yorkshire.

Another noteworthy figure was Sir Robert Tempest (1579-1637), a member of the English gentry and a Member of Parliament during the reign of King James I. He was involved in various legal disputes over land ownership and was known for his religious and political views.

During the English Civil War, Sir Richard Tempest (1598-1647) supported the Royalist cause and was taken prisoner by Parliamentary forces. He was later executed for his loyalty to King Charles I, and his estate was confiscated.

In the 18th century, John Tempest (1718-1790) was a successful merchant and banker who amassed a considerable fortune. He was also a patron of the arts and supported the work of artists such as Joseph Wright of Derby.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have borne the Tempest surname throughout history, reflecting its long-standing presence in England and its association with notable families and figures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tempest

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

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

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

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