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

The, 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 The surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of The in America

The is the 57914th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The The surname appeared 351 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 The.

We can also compare 2010 data for The 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 The

The surname "THE" is a unique and intriguing one, with its origins dating back to medieval England. This name is believed to have originated from the Old English word "thegn," which referred to a class of landowners or noblemen who held significant power and influence during the Anglo-Saxon period.

In the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, numerous entries mention individuals bearing variations of the name, such as "le Thegn" or "de Thegn." These early spellings suggest that the name was initially used as a descriptor or a title before evolving into a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "THE" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, a collection of financial records from the late 12th century. In these rolls, a certain "William le The" is mentioned, indicating that the name was already in use as a surname by that time.

During the medieval period, the surname "THE" was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire, where many landowners and influential figures bore this name. One notable example is Sir Robert The, a wealthy landowner and knight who lived in the 13th century and is mentioned in various historical records from that era.

Another significant figure associated with this surname is John The, a prominent merchant and alderman who lived in the city of Bristol during the 14th century. Records show that he played a crucial role in the city's trade and governance, and his name appears in numerous contemporary documents and charters.

As the centuries passed, the surname "THE" continued to be carried by notable individuals across various fields. In the 16th century, Thomas The was a renowned scholar and theologian who studied at the University of Oxford and later became the Dean of Winchester Cathedral.

In the 18th century, William The was a celebrated poet and playwright whose works were widely recognized and praised during his lifetime. His collection of poems, titled "The Muse's Garden," was a significant literary achievement of the era.

Throughout its long history, the surname "THE" has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including landowners, merchants, scholars, and artists. While its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period, this name has endured and continues to be carried by families across the globe, a testament to its rich heritage and enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name The

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!