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

Virtue, 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 Virtue surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Virtue in America

Virtue is the 21862nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Virtue surname appeared 1,189 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 Virtue.

We can also compare 2010 data for Virtue 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 Virtue

The surname Virtue is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "vertu," meaning "virtue" or "moral excellence." It first emerged in the late 13th century as a descriptive surname, likely assigned to an individual known for their virtuous or upright character.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Virtue can be found in the Lincolnshire Subsidy Rolls of 1349, which mention a John Vertu. This early spelling variation highlights the name's French roots and its gradual evolution into the modern form of "Virtue."

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname gained prominence in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire. Records from this period show Virtues residing in places like Gainsborough, Newark, and Doncaster.

A notable historical figure bearing the surname Virtue was William Virtue (c. 1600-1670), an English clergyman and author who served as a rector in Wiltshire. His published works include "The Doctrine of the Sabbath" and "The Preacher's Manual."

In the 18th century, the name Virtue appeared in colonial America, with individuals like James Virtue (1730-1808), a merchant and landowner from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Samuel Virtue (1739-1822), a Revolutionary War soldier from Pennsylvania.

The 19th century saw the emergence of several prominent Virtues, including George Virtue (1793-1868), a Scottish publisher and engraver who established the successful firm George Virtue & Co. in London. Another notable figure was Samuel Virtue (1805-1871), an English architect and surveyor responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in Yorkshire.

As the surname spread across the English-speaking world, it took on various spellings and forms, such as Vertue and Vurtue. One noteworthy individual was Ralph Vertue (1884-1916), an English footballer who played for Manchester City and represented England at the international level.

Throughout its history, the surname Virtue has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including academics, artists, and public figures. It serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of descriptive surnames and their ability to capture the essence of an individual's character or reputation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Virtue

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!