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

Tracer, 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 Tracer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tracer in America

Tracer is the 91221st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tracer surname appeared 202 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 Tracer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tracer 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 Tracer

The surname "Tracer" is of English origin, and it first emerged in the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "tracier," which means "to track" or "to trace." This occupational name was initially given to those whose profession involved tracing or tracking, such as hunters or foresters.

In medieval England, the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where vast areas of forests and hunting grounds were found. The earliest recorded instance of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a person named Robert le Traceur from Lincolnshire.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various historical records, including the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which listed a William Tracer from Yorkshire. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the name, as it predates the emergence of surnames in England.

In the 15th century, the name underwent some variations in spelling, such as "Tracer," "Tracour," and "Trayser." One notable individual from this period was John Tracer, a merchant from London who was mentioned in the City of London Records in 1437.

The 16th century saw the rise of several notable individuals bearing the surname Tracer. One of them was William Tracer (c. 1490-1568), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry from Lincolnshire. Another notable figure was Richard Tracer (c. 1520-1587), a respected scholar and theologian who served as the Rector of Grantham in Lincolnshire.

In the 17th century, the name continued to be found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One notable individual from this period was John Tracer (1620-1679), a successful merchant and alderman in the city of York.

During the 18th century, the name Tracer became associated with several place names, such as Tracey Farm in Lincolnshire and Tracer's Field in Yorkshire. Additionally, a notable figure from this period was Thomas Tracer (1745-1823), a respected physician and philanthropist from Nottinghamshire.

In the 19th century, the surname Tracer continued to be found across various regions of England, with some individuals emigrating to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia. One notable individual from this period was William Tracer (1810-1892), a prominent businessman and industrialist from Yorkshire, who played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tracer

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

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

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

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