Explore the Family Name Choice
The meaning of Choice
English: probably a variant of Joyce. There is a family tradition among bearers of the name that it means ‘chosen’, from Middle English, Old French chois (of ancient Germanic origin). In the Middle Ages the word was used both for an ‘act of choosing’ and a ‘thing chosen’, and as an adjective with the meaning ‘chosen’, ‘select, favored’. Perhaps this word gave rise to a nickname, but there is no evidence to support this speculation.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Choice in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname 'Choice' has seen a slight decrease from 2000 to 2010. Ranked at 13,554 in 2000, it slipped down to 14,201 in 2010, a change of -4.77%. However, there was a small increase in the number of individuals with the 'Choice' surname, with 2,055 people in 2000 and 2,114 people in 2010, reflecting a growth rate of 2.87%. The proportion per 100k also decreased by -5.26%, from 0.76 in 2000 to 0.72 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,554 | #14,201 | -4.77% |
| Count | 2,055 | 2,114 | 2.87% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.76 | 0.72 | -5.26% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Choice
The Decennial U.S. Census data also offers an overview of the ethnic identity associated with the surname 'Choice'. In 2010, most individuals with this surname identified as Black, making up 86% of the total. This was a slight decrease from 88.37% in 2000. The percentage of those identifying as White also decreased slightly from 7.10% in 2000 to 6.91% in 2010. On the other hand, those identifying as Hispanic saw a significant increase from 1.61% in 2000 to 2.65% in 2010. Similarly, those identifying as two or more races increased from 2.00% to 2.89% during the same period. In 2010, a small fraction of the 'Choice' population started identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 88.37% | 86% | -2.68% |
| White | 7.1% | 6.91% | -2.68% |
| Two or More Races | 2% | 2.89% | 44.5% |
| Hispanic | 1.61% | 2.65% | 64.6% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.14% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.43% | 0% |