Explore the Family Name Berkeley
The meaning of Berkeley
1. English: habitational name from one or more of the numerous places so named, such as Berkeley in Gloucestershire, named in Old English with be(o)rc ‘birch’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’. Compare Scottish Barclay. 2. Jewish (American): adoption of the English surname (see 1 above) in place of Berkowitz.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Berkeley in the United States?
The surname Berkeley, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, has experienced a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In the year 2000, the surname was ranked at 19,672 and by the year 2010 it had dropped slightly to a rank of 20,172, indicating a decrease in popularity of -2.54%. However, the total count of individuals carrying the Berkeley surname increased from 1,268 in 2000 to 1,322 in 2010, marking an increase of 4.26%. The proportion per 100,000 also decreased slightly from 0.47 to 0.45.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,672 | #20,172 | -2.54% |
| Count | 1,268 | 1,322 | 4.26% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.47 | 0.45 | -4.26% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Berkeley
In terms of ethnic identity, the distribution for the surname Berkeley saw some significant changes from 2000 to 2010 based on the Decennial U.S. Census data. The highest percentage was found among White ethnicity, which dropped slightly from 64.35% in 2000 to 61.88% in 2010. The second largest ethnicity associated with the Berkeley name was Black, which saw an increase from 25.87% to 27.76%. The proportion of those identifying as Hispanic also increased from 3.47% to 4.24%. On the other hand, those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander saw the most considerable decrease, from 0.87% to 0.45%. Finally, those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native or Two or more races saw an increase of 56.00% and a decrease of -15.48% respectively.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 64.35% | 61.88% | -3.84% |
| Black | 25.87% | 27.76% | 7.31% |
| Hispanic | 3.47% | 4.24% | 22.19% |
| Two or More Races | 3.94% | 3.33% | -15.48% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.5% | 2.34% | 56% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.87% | 0.45% | -48.28% |