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

Trigger, 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 Trigger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Trigger in America

Trigger is the 53316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Trigger surname appeared 388 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 Trigger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Trigger 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 Trigger

The surname Trigger has its origins in the Middle English language, deriving from the word "triggere," which referred to a person who operated a type of mechanical trap or release mechanism for hunting or warfare purposes. This name first emerged in England during the late 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Trigger can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire, a census-like document compiled in 1274-1275. This record mentions a person named Adam le Triggere, indicating the presence of this occupational surname in medieval England.

In the 14th century, the surname Trigger appeared in various forms, such as Tregour, Trigour, and Trygour, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. These variations were likely influenced by the local dialects and accents of different parts of England.

During the 15th century, the surname Trigger began to spread beyond its initial geographical origins. One notable individual bearing this name was John Trigger, a merchant from Bristol who was mentioned in the city's records in 1477.

The 16th century saw the emergence of several prominent individuals with the surname Trigger. One such person was William Trigger, a scholar and clergyman who lived from 1525 to 1589. He served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham and wrote several religious works.

In the 17th century, the surname Trigger gained further recognition with the birth of Edward Trigger (1629-1698), an English engraver and publisher. He is best known for his engravings of portraits and architectural designs, which were highly regarded during his time.

The 18th century brought forth another notable figure, James Trigger (1744-1817), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. He played a significant role in the Battle of Bunker Hill and later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

During the 19th century, the surname Trigger continued to be associated with various professions and disciplines. One such individual was Henry Trigger (1801-1879), a British architect who designed several prominent buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

As the 20th century dawned, the surname Trigger remained present across various fields. One notable bearer of this name was Robert Trigger (1917-1998), a renowned Canadian anthropologist and archaeologist. He made significant contributions to the study of ancient civilizations, particularly those of the Huron-Wendat and Mohawk peoples.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Trigger

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

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

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

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