Explore the Family Name Acheson
The meaning of Acheson
Scottish: variant of Atchison. This form of the surname is of Scottish origin, but since the 17th century has been especially common in northern Ireland, also in the Isle of Man. History: Among the individuals who brought this name from northern Ireland to North America was John Acheson (died 1791). He took up residence in Washington, DC, where he was joined by his brother Thomas c.1786. John founded a business furnishing government troops with supplies in the wars against Native Americans. Their ancestor Archibald Acheson had moved from Gosford, Haddington, Scotland, to Ulster in 1604, where he received lands from King James VI as part of the ‘plantation’ of Ulster by Protestant Scots. An unrelated David Acheson emigrated from Ulster to North America in 1788 and had numerous prominent descendants.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Acheson in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Acheson saw a minimal shift in rank from 2000 to 2010, moving from 14,243 to 14,405, indicating a decrease of 1.14%. However, the total number of people carrying the Acheson surname increased by 7.35%, from 1,933 in 2000 to 2,075 in 2010. Furthermore, the proportion per 100,000 people slightly decreased by 2.78%, going from 0.72 in 2000 to 0.7 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,243 | #14,405 | -1.14% |
| Count | 1,933 | 2,075 | 7.35% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.72 | 0.7 | -2.78% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Acheson
Regarding ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows variations within the Acheson surname between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic significantly increased by 70.97% and 68.67%, respectively. However, those identifying as Black decreased by 27.66%. The largest group under this surname, those who identify as White, also experienced a minor decline of 1.56%. The population recognizing themselves as belonging to two or more races saw a slight increase, up by 17.65%, while those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native rose by 8.06%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.76% | 94.27% | -1.56% |
| Hispanic | 1.66% | 2.8% | 68.67% |
| Two or More Races | 1.19% | 1.4% | 17.65% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.62% | 0.67% | 8.06% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.31% | 0.53% | 70.97% |
| Black | 0.47% | 0.34% | -27.66% |