Explore the Family Name Birkeland
The meaning of Birkeland
Norwegian: habitational name from any of some 40 places called Birkeland, Byrkjeland, from Old Norse birki ‘birch’ + land ‘(piece of) land, farmstead’. Compare Berkland and Birkland. Some characteristic forenames: Scandinavian Anders, Toralf, Bjorn, Erik, Jorgen, Kristoffer, Lars, Nils, Sig, Sigvard.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Birkeland in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Birkeland has seen some fluctuations in popularity over a decade. In 2000, the surname was ranked 28,994th in terms of prevalence, but by 2010, it had dropped slightly to 29,422nd, representing a decrease of 1.48%. However, despite this drop in rank, the actual count of people with the Birkeland name increased by 4.15%, from 771 in 2000 to 803 in 2010. The proportion of people with this surname per 100k also saw a slight decrease of 6.9%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #28,994 | #29,422 | -1.48% |
| Count | 771 | 803 | 4.15% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.29 | 0.27 | -6.9% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Birkeland
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Birkeland has also undergone changes according to the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, the vast majority of individuals with the Birkeland name identified as White (96.5%), but by 2010, this percentage had decreased to 92.28%. Despite the overall dominance of the White ethnicity, the data shows increases in other ethnicities. For example, there were no individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or Black in 2000, but by 2010, these groups accounted for 0.62% each. The proportion identifying with two or more races also saw a significant rise from 0.91% to 2.24%. Additionally, the Hispanic representation grew by 43.27%, and those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native saw an impressive increase of 321.54%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.5% | 92.28% | -4.37% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.65% | 2.74% | 321.54% |
| Two or More Races | 0.91% | 2.24% | 146.15% |
| Hispanic | 1.04% | 1.49% | 43.27% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.62% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0.62% | 0% |