Explore the Family Name Certain
The meaning of Certain
1. English: altered form of Sartain. 2. French: nickname from certain ‘certain, resolute’, a derivative of Old French certise ‘certitude’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Certain in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname "Certain" decreased slightly in popularity between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 25,564th and by 2010, it had dropped to 26,086th position indicating a -2.04% change. The count of people with this surname, however, increased from 907 to 939 marking an increase of 3.53%. Despite this increase, the proportion of people named Certain per 100,000 decreased from 0.34 to 0.32, signifying a -5.88% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,564 | #26,086 | -2.04% |
| Count | 907 | 939 | 3.53% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.34 | 0.32 | -5.88% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Certain
Ethnic identity data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows changes in the distribution of the surname "Certain" across different ethnic groups from 2000 to 2010. The surname appeared for the first time among the Asian/Pacific Islander community in 2010 at a rate of 0.85%. The percentage of those identifying as two or more races saw a rise of 22.49%, while individuals who identify as White decreased by -2.57%. There was also a slight increase in the Hispanic community by 16.88%, whereas the Black community saw a slight decrease of -3.44%. Lastly, the American Indian and Alaskan Native community saw the biggest leap upwards with a 60.61% increase in those bearing the surname "Certain".
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76.52% | 74.55% | -2.57% |
| Black | 15.99% | 15.44% | -3.44% |
| Hispanic | 4.74% | 5.54% | 16.88% |
| Two or More Races | 2.09% | 2.56% | 22.49% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.66% | 1.06% | 60.61% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.85% | 0% |