Explore the Family Name Cawthorne
The meaning of Cawthorne
English: habitational name from Cawthorn in North Yorkshire or Cawthorne in West Yorkshire; both are probably named with Old English cald ‘cold’ (i.e. ‘exposed’) + thorn ‘thorn bush’. Compare Cauthen, Cauthon, Cauthorn, and Cothern.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Cawthorne in the United States?
The surname Cawthorne, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, experienced a dip in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 30,443 among all surnames but dropped to 32,203 by 2010. This represents a decrease of 5.78% in rank, reflecting a slight lessening in its prevalence. The number of individuals bearing the surname also slightly decreased from 724 in 2000 to 716 in 2010, a marginal decline of 1.1%. Consequently, the proportion of people named Cawthorne per 100k population also fell by 11.11% over the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #30,443 | #32,203 | -5.78% |
| Count | 724 | 716 | -1.1% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.27 | 0.24 | -11.11% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Cawthorne
In terms of ethnic identity, the Cawthorne surname shows some diversity. According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the majority of individuals with this name identify as White, at 70.17% in 2000 and dropping slightly to 65.78% in 2010. The second largest group identifies as Black, which increased from 26.10% in 2000 to 30.17% in 2010. The percentage of people identifying as two or more races also rose significantly from 1.24% to 2.09%, showing a notable increase of 68.55%. Those identifying as Hispanic saw a 40% increase, though they make up only a small fraction of the total. There were no recorded instances of the surname among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 70.17% | 65.78% | -6.26% |
| Black | 26.1% | 30.17% | 15.59% |
| Two or More Races | 1.24% | 2.09% | 68.55% |
| Hispanic | 1.1% | 1.54% | 40% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |