Explore the Family Name Straw
The meaning of Straw
1. English: nickname from Middle English strau(we) ‘straw’ (Old English strēaw), used for a dealer in straw, an exceptionally thin man, or someone with straw-colored hair. Jack Straw is known as a type in literary works of the 14th century (Chaucer, Nun’s Priest’s Tale). 2. Americanized form (translation into English) of German Stroh.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Straw in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Straw holds a position of popularity in the United States. In the year 2000, it ranked 7899, but its position slid to 8356 by 2010, marking a decrease of 5.79%. However, the count of individuals bearing this surname slightly increased from 3887 in 2000 to 3962 in 2010, representing a modest growth of 1.93%. The per capita proportion of people with the surname Straw among every 100000 residents fell by 6.94%, moving from 1.44 in 2000 to 1.34 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,899 | #8,356 | -5.79% |
| Count | 3,887 | 3,962 | 1.93% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.44 | 1.34 | -6.94% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Straw
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname Straw, data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals interesting shifts between 2000 and 2010. Individuals identifying as White represented the largest group, although their percentage dropped from 91.23% in 2000 to 89.78% in 2010. The proportions of those identifying as Black and Asian/Pacific Islander also saw increases, from 4.71% to 5.17% and from 0.54% to 0.76% respectively. The percentage of individuals with this surname who identify as Hispanic rose from 1.11% in 2000 to 1.54% in 2010. Those identifying as two or more races experienced an increase from 1.60% to 2.02%. Conversely, the proportion of individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased from 0.82% in 2000 to 0.73% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.23% | 89.78% | -1.59% |
| Black | 4.71% | 5.17% | 9.77% |
| Two or More Races | 1.6% | 2.02% | 26.25% |
| Hispanic | 1.11% | 1.54% | 38.74% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.54% | 0.76% | 40.74% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.82% | 0.73% | -10.98% |
Straw ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Straw is British & Irish, which comprises 48.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (32.0%) and Scandinavian (3.9%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Japanese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 48.2% |
| French & German | 32.0% |
| Scandinavian | 3.9% |
| Other | 15.9% |
Possible origins of the surname Straw
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Straw have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Lancashire, United Kingdom | 88.70% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 88.70% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 88.70% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 88.70% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 88.70% |
What Straw haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Straw is R-U152, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-U152 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include I-L1198 and R-L21, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Bush, Ackerman, Ricci, Ferrari, Lombardi, Horning, Rowley, Townsend, Weaver, Bradshaw.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Straw surname are: H1, J1c, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Straw have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Straw" Surname 46.2%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Straw" Surname 20.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Straw" Surname 17.3%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Straw" Surname 10.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Straw?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Straw are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition