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

Usher, 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 Usher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Usher in America

Usher is the 4742nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Usher surname appeared 7,477 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 Usher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Usher 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 Usher

The surname Usher is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'usser' or 'ussher', which referred to an officer or attendant in a court or household. The name first emerged in the 11th century and was initially an occupational surname for someone who performed the duties of an usher or doorkeeper.

Usher is believed to have roots in the Anglo-Norman French word 'huissier', which also means a doorkeeper or attendant. This French word, in turn, is derived from the Latin word 'ostiarius', meaning a doorkeeper or porter. The earliest recorded spelling of the name in England is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Osser' and 'Ussher'.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Hamo le Usser, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1176. Another early record is Robertus le Ussher, found in the Assize Court Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292.

The Usher surname is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most prominent figures was James Usher (1580-1656), an Anglican Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, who was a renowned scholar and theologian.

Another notable bearer of the name was John Usher (1594-1626), an English explorer and navigator who was involved in the early colonization efforts in North America. He is credited with surveying and mapping the New England coast and played a role in the founding of the colony of Massachusetts Bay.

In the literary world, James Usher (1720-1772) was an Irish dramatist and playwright known for his comedies and satires, while Clarence Usher (1878-1941) was an American historian and author who wrote extensively on the history of the American frontier.

The name Usher has also been associated with several places, such as Usher's Island in Dublin, Ireland, and the town of Ushers Ferry, Virginia, named after a ferry operated by members of the Usher family in the 18th century.

Over the centuries, the Usher surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Usher, Ussher, Uscher, and Ushers, among others. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its connection to its occupational origins and has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Usher

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

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

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

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