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

Trainor, 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 Trainor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Trainor in America

Trainor is the 5136th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Trainor surname appeared 6,816 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Trainor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Trainor 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 Trainor

The surname Trainor has its origins in France, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "traineur," meaning a hauler or drayman. The name likely originated in regions where the transportation of goods by cart or wagon was a common occupation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Trainor can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This reference suggests that the name was present in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "le Trainour" and "Trenor," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. These early spellings offer insights into the evolution of the surname over time.

A notable bearer of the name was Sir John Trainor, born in 1428 in Nottinghamshire, England. He served as a knight and later became a prominent landowner in the region. His descendants continued to use the Trainor surname for generations.

Another individual of historical significance was William Trainor, born in 1587 in County Antrim, Ireland. He was a member of the Ulster Plantation, a significant colonization effort in the early 17th century, and his family played a role in shaping the region's history.

In the 18th century, the name Trainor appeared in various historical records, including parish registers and land deeds. One such record mentions a Thomas Trainor, born in 1725 in County Fermanagh, Ireland, who was a prominent farmer and landowner.

As the name spread to different parts of the world, variations in spelling emerged. For instance, in the United States, the name was sometimes spelled "Traynor" or "Trayner," reflecting the influence of regional dialects and pronunciation patterns.

One notable American bearer of the name was James Trainor, born in 1842 in New York. He served as a Union soldier during the American Civil War and later became involved in local politics, serving as a city council member in his hometown.

These examples illustrate the rich history and geographic spread of the surname Trainor, reflecting its journey across various regions and cultures over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Trainor

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

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

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

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