Explore the Family Name Debates

The meaning of Debates

Altered form of Flemish Debaets or De Baets: occupational name for a baker, from a romanized form of Old High German beccho, with article de ‘the’.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Debates in the United States?

The surname Debates, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, has seen an increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010. The rank of this surname rose from 55,732nd in 2000 to 54,178th in 2010, marking a change of 2.79%. In terms of the count, the number of people bearing this surname increased from 344 to 381 during the same period, a growth rate of 10.76%. However, the proportion per 100,000 remained consistent at 0.13.

20002010Change
Rank#55,732#54,1782.79%
Count34438110.76%
Proportion per 100k0.130.130%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Debates

Looking at the ethnic identity associated with the surname Debates, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that it is predominantly associated with individuals identifying as White, accounting for 96.22% in 2000 and slightly decreasing to 95.80% in 2010. A new development in 2010 was the emergence of individuals who identify with two or more races, constituting 1.57%. Other ethnic identities such as Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native did not record any association with the surname Debates in these years.

20002010Change
White96.22%95.8%-0.44%
Two or More Races0%1.57%0%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
Hispanic0%0%0%
Black0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%