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

Terrance, 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 Terrance surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Terrance in America

Terrance is the 32834th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Terrance surname appeared 699 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 Terrance.

We can also compare 2010 data for Terrance 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 Terrance

The surname Terrance is of Anglo-Norman origin, tracing its roots back to the 11th century when the Normans conquered England. It is derived from the Old French word "terrien," meaning "landowner" or "one who owns land." The name likely originated in the region of Normandy in northern France before spreading to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Terrance can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book mentions several landowners with variations of the name, such as "Terricus" and "Terrianus," indicating the presence of the surname in England shortly after the Norman invasion.

During the Middle Ages, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations like "Terraunce," "Teraunt," and "Terraunce" appearing in various medieval records and manuscripts. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling conventions of the time.

One notable bearer of the surname Terrance was Sir John Terrance, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Hundred Years' War against France during the 14th century. He was born in 1320 and died in 1392, and his exploits are recorded in several contemporary chronicles.

Another prominent figure was Richard Terrance, a merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1472. He played a significant role in the city's governance and trade during the latter half of the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the name was associated with the village of Terrant, located in the English county of Dorset. This place name likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname for those who hailed from that area.

During the 17th century, the Terrance family established themselves in the county of Somerset, where they were prominent landowners and members of the gentry. One notable member was Sir Edward Terrance, born in 1623, who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles II.

In the 18th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of Sir William Terrance in 1740, a renowned explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in the British colonies.

Throughout its long history, the surname Terrance has been borne by numerous individuals from various walks of life, ranging from knights and nobles to merchants and politicians, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Terrance

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

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

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

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