Explore the Family Name Eigen
The meaning of Eigen
1. German: status name from Middle High German aigen ‘unfree; serf’, denoting (in the Middle Ages) someone with service obligations to a secular or ecclesiastical authority (also in Switzerland); or from eigen ‘inherited property’ denoting a free landowner (without feudal obligations). 2. German: habitational name from any of several places called Eigen or Aigen, most of them in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. 3. Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): artificial name from German eigen ‘own’. Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Tikva, Zev. German Inge.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Eigen in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Eigen has seen a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Eigen was ranked 75,466th and slipped to 88,336th by 2010, marking a 17.05% drop. The count of people with this surname also decreased from 238 to 210, a reduction of 11.76%. The proportion of individuals named Eigen per 100,000 people dipped by 22.22% during this time span.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #75,466 | #88,336 | -17.05% |
| Count | 238 | 210 | -11.76% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.09 | 0.07 | -22.22% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Eigen
The ethnic identity data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows a majority of those with the surname Eigen identifying as White - 95.38% in 2000, which slightly reduced to 93.81% in 2010. Meanwhile, the Asian/Pacific Islander segment rose by 32.14% from 2.52% to 3.33% over the same period. No changes were observed for those identifying as two or more races, Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native. This information is based upon reported data and does not take into account those instances where data may have been suppressed for privacy.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.38% | 93.81% | -1.65% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.52% | 3.33% | 32.14% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |