Explore the Family Name Shakespeare
The meaning of Shakespeare
English: nickname from Middle English shak(en) ‘shake, brandish’ + spere ‘spear’, presumably for a spearman or perhaps (with a slang sense of spear) for an exhibitionist. History: In April 1487 Hugo Shakspere was elected a fellow of Merton College, Oxford, and in June the same year he is further mentioned as Hugo Sawnder alias dictus Shakspere, sed mutatum est istud nomen eius, quia vile reputatum est ‘Hugo Sawnder also known as Shakspere, but that name of his has been changed because it is of ill repute’. John Shakspere, glover, businessman, bailiff and subsequently mayor of Stratford upon Avon, was the father of the playwright William Shakespeare (1564–1616).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Shakespeare in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Shakespeare has seen an upward trend from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked at 22,461 with 1,069 individuals carrying the name. By 2010, the count had risen to 1,275 and the rank moved up to 20,739, which translates to a change of 7.67% in popularity rank and a 19.27% increase in count. The proportion per 100,000 people also increased from 0.4 to 0.43, marking a 7.5% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,461 | #20,739 | 7.67% |
| Count | 1,069 | 1,275 | 19.27% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.4 | 0.43 | 7.5% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Shakespeare
The ethnicity associated with the surname Shakespeare, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, showed changes between 2000 and 2010. While White individuals made up the majority of those with the surname, their percentage dropped slightly from 59.59% to 57.10%. Black individuals accounted for the second largest group, increasing marginally from 29.19% to 30.20%. There was a noticeable rise in the Hispanic component of the Shakespeare surname holders, increasing by 62% from 1.50% to 2.43%. Asian/Pacific Islander representation also grew from 0.65% to 0.78%, while those identifying with two or more races saw an increase from 1.68% to 1.96%. The American Indian and Alaskan Native group rose slightly from 7.39% to 7.53%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 59.59% | 57.1% | -4.18% |
| Black | 29.19% | 30.2% | 3.46% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 7.39% | 7.53% | 1.89% |
| Hispanic | 1.5% | 2.43% | 62% |
| Two or More Races | 1.68% | 1.96% | 16.67% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.65% | 0.78% | 20% |