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

Tern, 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 Tern surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tern in America

Tern is the 123796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tern surname appeared 139 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 Tern.

The history of the last name Tern

The surname TERN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old English word "tern," which referred to a type of seabird. This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who lived near the coast or had a particular affinity for these birds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname TERN can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, which mention a William Tern. This suggests that the name was already in use by the 14th century in that region of England.

Another early reference to the surname TERN appears in the Hearth Tax Returns of Warwickshire in 1670, which lists a John Tern as a resident of the area. This record provides evidence of the name's continued presence in the Midlands region of England during the 17th century.

The name TERN also has connections to various place names in England. For example, the village of Tern Hill in Shropshire may have influenced the development of the surname in that area. Additionally, the river Tern, which flows through Shropshire and Staffordshire, could have contributed to the name's origins.

One notable individual with the surname TERN was William Tern, an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Bridgnorth in the late 16th century. He was born around 1545 and died in 1598.

Another historical figure with this surname was Robert Tern, a prominent merchant and landowner in the 17th century. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1620 and was involved in the wool trade, accumulating significant wealth and property holdings in Warwickshire.

In the 18th century, John Tern (1725-1790) was a renowned botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plants and their classification. He was particularly interested in the flora of the British Isles and published several influential works on the subject.

The surname TERN also has connections to literary figures. Thomas Tern (1801-1876) was an English poet and author who wrote extensively about rural life and the countryside. His works captured the essence of traditional English rural culture and gained him recognition during the Victorian era.

Finally, in the 20th century, Elizabeth Tern (1920-2005) was a prominent historian and academic who specialized in the study of medieval England. Her research on the social and economic structures of that period was highly regarded, and she authored several influential books on the subject.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tern

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

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 Tern 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.

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

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

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