Explore the Family Name Elizabeth
The meaning of Elizabeth
1. English: from the female personal name Elizabeth, which owed its popularity in medieval Europe to the fact that it was borne by John the Baptist’s mother. The original form of the name was Hebrew Elisheva ‘my God (is my) oath’ and it appears thus in Exodus 6:23 as the name of Aaron’s wife. By New Testament times the second element had been altered to Hebrew shabat ‘rest, Sabbath’. The personal name became even more popular after the canonization of Elisabeth, Duchess of Thuringia around 1230. See also Isabel. 2. West Indian (Dutch Caribbean): from the female personal name Elizabeth (see 1 above). It is one of the surnames (compare Martina) that reflect the partially mother-oriented name culture of the formerly enslaved people in the West Indies. Some characteristic forenames: French Dominique.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Elizabeth in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Elizabeth has seen an increase in its popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Elizabeth was ranked 39,378 in terms of popularity and increased to be ranked at 38,439 in 2010, demonstrating a 2.38% change. The count of individuals with this surname also increased by 9.51% during this decade, from 526 to 576 people. Additionally, the proportion of individuals with the Elizabeth surname per 100,000 people increased by 5.26%, indicating that it is gradually becoming more common.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #39,378 | #38,439 | 2.38% |
| Count | 526 | 576 | 9.51% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.19 | 0.2 | 5.26% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Elizabeth
In terms of ethnic identity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows shifts between 2000 and 2010 for the surname Elizabeth. While there were no recorded individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander in 2000, by 2010, they made up 3.82% of the Elizabeth surname bearers. However, those identifying as two or more races dropped from 1.71% to zero. The white population with the Elizabeth surname slightly decreased from 63.31% to 60.94%. Meanwhile, the Hispanic population saw a slight decrease from 25.86% to 25.17%. On the other hand, the black population increased from 7.41% to 7.81%. There were no changes in the American Indian and Alaskan Native populations, remaining at zero across both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 63.31% | 60.94% | -3.74% |
| Hispanic | 25.86% | 25.17% | -2.67% |
| Black | 7.41% | 7.81% | 5.4% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 3.82% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.71% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |