Explore the Family Name Begin
The meaning of Begin
1. French (Bégin): probably a nickname derived from the Old French adjective besgue ‘having a stammer’ (see Begue). 2. French: variant of Beguin. 3. Jewish (from Belarus): variant of Begun. Some characteristic forenames: French Andre, Armand, Benoit, Rolande, Alcide, Antoine, Camille, Jacques, Luc, Normand, Renaud, Aime.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Begin in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Begin" saw a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 11,327th, but by 2010, it had dropped to 11,839th, a change of -4.52%. Despite this drop in rank, the actual count of individuals with this surname increased from 2,560 to 2,644, marking a growth of 3.28%. However, when considered as a proportion per 100,000 people, the occurrence of the surname "Begin" decreased by 5.26%, moving from 0.95 in 2000 to 0.9 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,327 | #11,839 | -4.52% |
| Count | 2,560 | 2,644 | 3.28% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.95 | 0.9 | -5.26% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Begin
Discussing the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Begin", the Decennial U.S. Census data provides some interesting insights. The majority of individuals bearing this name identify as White, making up 95.43% in 2000 and slightly decreasing to 94.70% in 2010. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic saw significant increases over the decade, with changes of 40.70% and 76.67% respectively. The percentage of individuals of two or more ethnicities and American Indian/Alaskan Native origin decreased by 18.40% and 25.71% respectively. The percentage of individuals identifying as Black remained stable at 1.21% from 2000 to 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.43% | 94.7% | -0.76% |
| Hispanic | 0.9% | 1.59% | 76.67% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.86% | 1.21% | 40.7% |
| Black | 1.21% | 1.21% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.25% | 1.02% | -18.4% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.35% | 0.26% | -25.71% |