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

True, 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 True surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of True in America

True is the 4303rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The True surname appeared 8,261 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname True.

We can also compare 2010 data for True 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 True

The surname True originated in England, where it first emerged as an occupational name for someone who was particularly honest or trustworthy. The earliest known bearer of the name was William le True, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1208.

The name is derived from the Middle English word "trewe," which means "faithful" or "true." This word ultimately derives from the Old English word "trēowe," which has the same meaning. The True surname is also closely related to the German name Treu, which has a similar origin and meaning.

In medieval times, surnames were often adopted as a way to identify individuals beyond their given names. Occupational surnames like True were particularly common, as they helped to distinguish people based on their professions or personal qualities.

One of the earliest recorded references to the True surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, which date back to 1327. The name is also mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1379, where a man named John True is listed.

Over the centuries, the True surname has been spelled in various ways, including Trew, Trewe, and Truw. Some of these variations can be traced back to specific regions of England, where local dialects and accents influenced the pronunciation and spelling of the name.

Notable individuals with the surname True include:

1. Ranulf le True (c. 1250 - c. 1320), an English landowner and knight who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence.
2. William True (1616 - 1677), an early settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and one of the founders of Salem, Massachusetts.
3. Henry Pettes True (1775 - 1849), an English farmer and writer who published several works on agriculture and rural life.
4. Nathaniel True (1812 - 1887), an American botanist and professor at Harvard University.
5. Thaxter True (1885 - 1968), an American artist and illustrator known for his paintings of rural New England scenes.

The True surname has a long and fascinating history, reflecting the values of honesty and trustworthiness that were associated with its earliest bearers. While the name has evolved and spread throughout the English-speaking world, it remains a testament to the enduring importance of these virtues in society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name True

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

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

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

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