Explore the Family Name Caleb
The meaning of Caleb
1. English (Yorkshire) and Welsh (Monmouthshire): from the Biblical personal name Caleb, which is derived from ancient Hebrew kaleb ‘dog’. It was the name of one of the only two men who set out with Moses from Egypt to live long enough to enter the promised land (Numbers 26:65). This name was popular among the Puritans in the 17th century and was brought by them as a personal name to America. 2. Possibly also an Americanized form of Croatian Kaleb: nickname from an old spelling of galeb ‘seagull’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Caleb in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Caleb has seen a notable increase between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Caleb was ranked 33,425 in terms of popularity among surnames, but by 2010 it had jumped to a higher rank of 29,918, demonstrating a 10.49% change. The number of individuals carrying the surname also rose in this period, moving from 644 people in 2000 to 785 in 2010, which is a significant increase of 21.89%. Additionally, the proportion of individuals with the surname per 100,000 people increased by 12.5%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #33,425 | #29,918 | 10.49% |
| Count | 644 | 785 | 21.89% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.24 | 0.27 | 12.5% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Caleb
The data from the Decennial U.S. Census also provides an insightful look into the ethnicity tied to the surname Caleb. Between 2000 and 2010, there was a noticeable rise in the percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, from 3.73% to 5.99%, a change of 60.59%. However, the proportion of individuals who identified with two or more races decreased to zero in 2010 from 4.35% in 2000. The percentages of those identifying as White and Black saw slight decreases of -1.91% and -6.15% respectively. Interestingly, the proportion of individuals identifying as Hispanic appeared in 2010 at 4.46%, while no data for this group was recorded in 2000. The American Indian and Alaskan Native category remained constant with no percentage recorded in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 48.6% | 45.61% | -6.15% |
| White | 41.3% | 40.51% | -1.91% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.73% | 5.99% | 60.59% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 4.46% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 4.35% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |