Explore the Family Name Catherine
The meaning of Catherine
French, English, and Scottish: from the female personal name Catherine (Old French and Middle English Katerine), from Latin Caterina, from Greek Aikaterinē, which is of uncertain origin. The usual vernacular form in medieval England was Cateline; see Catlin. The personal name was very popular in the Middle Ages due to Saint Katherine of Alexandria, a legendary Christian figure of doubtful historicity, who was supposedly martyred under the Emperor Maxentius in 307. The modern spelling and pronunciation of the name with -th- is a 16th-century ‘learned’ introduction by clerics and other educated people, who believed that it derived from Greek katharos ‘pure’. Some characteristic forenames: French Benoit.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Catherine in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Catherine has seen a decline in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 50,686 and dropped to 58,042 in 2010, which is a decrease of 14.51%. The count also decreased from 387 in 2000 to 350 in 2010, a drop of 9.56%. Consequently, the proportion per 100,000 people reduced from 0.14 to 0.12, marking a 14.29% decline.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #50,686 | #58,042 | -14.51% |
| Count | 387 | 350 | -9.56% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.12 | -14.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Catherine
The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides insights into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Catherine. In 2000, the majority of those with this surname identified as White (73.64%), followed by Black (21.45%). By 2010, there was a slight decrease in the percentage identifying as White (70.00%) and an increase in those identifying as Black (24.57%). Hispanic representation also saw a modest increase, from 2.58% in 2000 to 2.86% in 2010. Interestingly, there was a minor emergence of Asian/Pacific Islander representation in 2010, which was non-existent in 2000. However, data for those identifying as two or more races or American Indian and Alaskan Native was either suppressed or remained at zero.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 73.64% | 70% | -4.94% |
| Black | 21.45% | 24.57% | 14.55% |
| Hispanic | 2.58% | 2.86% | 10.85% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.43% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.29% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |