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

Trailer, 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 Trailer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Trailer in America

Trailer is the 71042nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Trailer surname appeared 275 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 Trailer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Trailer 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 Trailer

The surname TRAILER is of English origin, dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old French word "trailleur," which referred to someone who dragged or hauled goods or materials. This occupation was particularly common in medieval times when goods were transported by horse-drawn carts or wagons.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name TRAILER can be found in the records of the City of London from 1379, where a certain John Traillour is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of the surname over time.

During the 15th century, the name TRAILER appeared in various historical documents across different regions of England. For instance, in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1524, a Thomas Traylor is listed as a taxpayer. This spelling variation suggests the name's association with the occupation of a trailer or hauler.

In the 16th century, the name TRAILER gained prominence in several parts of England. Notable individuals bearing this surname include William Trailer, a merchant from Bristol who was recorded in the city's records in 1587. Additionally, a family with the surname TRAILER was documented in the Parish Registers of Staffordshire in the late 1500s.

As the centuries progressed, the name TRAILER spread to other parts of the English-speaking world, including the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances in the New World is that of John Trailer, who arrived in Virginia in 1635, according to the records of the Virginia Company.

Other notable individuals with the surname TRAILER include:

1. Sir Edward Trailer (1670-1743), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Essex.
2. Richard Trailer (1705-1781), a renowned clockmaker from London whose timepieces were highly sought after by the aristocracy.
3. Mary Trailer (1789-1863), a British author and poet who published several works on religion and morality.
4. Thomas Trailer (1824-1901), an American Civil War veteran who fought for the Union Army and later became a prominent businessman in Ohio.
5. Elizabeth Trailer (1880-1962), a philanthropist and social reformer who established several charitable organizations in New York City.

The surname TRAILER has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, such as Traylor, Traylour, and Trayler, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic changes of the time. However, its roots can be traced back to the occupation of hauling or dragging goods, a vital trade in medieval and early modern times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Trailer

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

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

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

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