Explore the Family Name Counter
The meaning of Counter
1. English (Devon, of Norman origin): occupational name for a treasurer or accountant, from Middle English counter (from Old French conteor). 2. Americanized form of French Comtois. History: Some of the American bearers of the surname Counter are descendants of Louis Gilbert dit Comtois from France (see Gilbert, compare Comtois).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Counter in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Counter has seen a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked as the 26,332nd most common surname in the United States, with 872 people carrying this name. By 2010, it had slipped to the 27,678th position, a decrease of 5.11%, with the count modestly decreasing to 869, a fall of 0.34%. The proportion per 100,000 people also declined by 9.38% during this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #26,332 | #27,678 | -5.11% |
| Count | 872 | 869 | -0.34% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.32 | 0.29 | -9.38% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Counter
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Counter also saw some shifts over the same period, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. While the majority of individuals with this surname identified as White (86.54% in 2010, down slightly from 87.27% in 2000), there was a notable increase in those identifying as Hispanic, from 1.61% in 2000 to 4.60% in 2010, a change of 185.71%. The percentage of people identifying as Black decreased from 9.40% to 6.33% in this time frame. Meanwhile, the percentage of people identifying with two or more races moderately increased from 1.15% to 1.73%. There were no individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 87.27% | 86.54% | -0.84% |
| Black | 9.4% | 6.33% | -32.66% |
| Hispanic | 1.61% | 4.6% | 185.71% |
| Two or More Races | 1.15% | 1.73% | 50.43% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |