Explore the Family Name Sidney
The meaning of Sidney
English (Durham): 1. habitational name from Sidney Farm in Alfold (Surrey), from Old English sīd ‘large, spacious, long’ (dative sīdan) + ēg ‘island’. 2. possibly also a habitational name from any of the places called Saint-Denis in Normandy, named from the dedication of their churches to Saint Dionysius (see Dennis). History: A family of this name (see 1 above), who hold the title Viscount de l’Isle, trace their descent from John de Sydenie, who held lands c.1280 at Alford, Surrey, where Sidney Farm and Sidney Wood are situated. His descendants include Sir William Sidney (c.1482–1554), a commander at Flodden, who was granted Penshurst Place, Kent, by Edward VI. The poet Sir Philip Sidney (1554–86) was a descendant, born at Penshurst. The Australian city of Sydney was named in 1788 after the politician Thomas Townshend, First Viscount Sydney (1733–1800).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sidney in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Sidney has seen a slight increase in its popularity from 2000 to 2010. Ranking at 13,685 in 2000 and moving slightly up to 13,578 by 2010, this indicates a change of about 0.78%. The count of people bearing the surname also rose, from 2,033 in 2000 to 2,233 in 2010, marking an increase of around 9.84%. Furthermore, the proportion of individuals with this surname per 100,000 people saw a small growth of 1.33%, going from 0.75 in 2000 to 0.76 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,685 | #13,578 | 0.78% |
| Count | 2,033 | 2,233 | 9.84% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.75 | 0.76 | 1.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sidney
When it comes to ethnic identity, again based on the Decennial U.S. Census, there have been some changes between 2000 and 2010. The largest ethnicity associated with the surname Sidney remains Black with 60.28% in 2010, down slightly from 60.99% in 2000. The White ethnicity followed at 32.33% in 2010, dropping a bit from 32.91% in 2000. However, other ethnicities experienced increases. The Asian/Pacific Islander group increased significantly from 0.59% in 2000 to 1.07% in 2010. Those identifying as two or more races rose from 2.07% to 2.37%. Individuals identifying as Hispanic moved from 2.51% to 2.69%. Lastly, the American Indian and Alaskan Native group increased from 0.93% to 1.25%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 60.99% | 60.28% | -1.16% |
| White | 32.91% | 32.33% | -1.76% |
| Hispanic | 2.51% | 2.69% | 7.17% |
| Two or More Races | 2.07% | 2.37% | 14.49% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.93% | 1.25% | 34.41% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.59% | 1.07% | 81.36% |