Explore the Family Name Shire
The meaning of Shire
1. English: variant of Shear. 2. English: topographic name from Middle English s(c)hire ‘shire’ (Old English scīr), denoting someone who lived at or near the meeting place of a shire, hundred, or smaller administrative unit. This name was also established in Ireland (Limerick) by the 18th century. 3. Somali: from the personal name Shire, derived from shir ‘assembly’. — Note: Since Somalis traditionally do not have hereditary surnames, this name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Shire in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname 'Shire' has risen significantly between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 22,098th most popular surname, but by 2010, it had climbed to the 17,239th position, demonstrating a 21.99% increase in rank. The count of people carrying the 'Shire' surname also surged by a substantial 50.46%, with 1,092 bearers in 2000 expanding to 1,643 by 2010. Consequently, the proportion of individuals with this surname per 100,000 people increased 40% during this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,098 | #17,239 | 21.99% |
| Count | 1,092 | 1,643 | 50.46% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.4 | 0.56 | 40% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Shire
The ethnic identity associated with the 'Shire' surname also evolved over this ten-year period, as indicated by the Decennial U.S. Census. The largest shift was observed within the Black community, where the percentage of individuals with the 'Shire' surname nearly doubled, escalating from 13.83% in 2000 to 26.17% in 2010. There was also an upward trend in the Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic communities, with increases of 63.87% and 52.34% respectively. Despite remaining the dominant ethnicity, the portion of White individuals bearing this surname decreased by 14.29%, while those identifying as two or more races fell by 56.53%. The American Indian and Alaskan Native community experienced a slight reduction of 19.57%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 79.03% | 67.74% | -14.29% |
| Black | 13.83% | 26.17% | 89.23% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.19% | 1.95% | 63.87% |
| Hispanic | 1.28% | 1.95% | 52.34% |
| Two or More Races | 4.21% | 1.83% | -56.53% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.46% | 0.37% | -19.57% |