Explore the Family Name Elk
The meaning of Elk
1. Native American: translation into English (and shortening) of a personal name based on a word, such as Lakota Sioux hehaka and Cheyenne mo’e(he), meaning ‘elk’. The importance of the elk to Native Americans is reflected in their traditional personal names, some of which were adopted as surnames (translated into English), e.g. Elk Shoulder (see Elkshoulder) and Red Elk (see Redelk). 2. German: variant of Elke. 3. Americanized form of German Ilg or of some other similar (like-sounding) surname. 4. Perhaps also Dutch (Van Elk): habitational name from the village Ellecom in the province of Gelderland.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Elk in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Elk experienced a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Elk was ranked as the 38,587th most common surname in America, with approximately 539 individuals bearing the name. By 2010, the name's rank had dropped slightly to 39,659th, although the number of people with the surname had increased modestly to 554. This represents a 2.78% increase in count but a 2.78% drop in ranking. The proportion per 100,000 people also fell by 5% during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #38,587 | #39,659 | -2.78% |
| Count | 539 | 554 | 2.78% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.2 | 0.19 | -5% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Elk
In terms of ethnic identity, the Elk surname showed some shifts over the decade according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. A majority of those carrying the Elk surname identify as White, though this demographic saw a minor decrease from 72.36% in 2000 to 68.23% in 2010. The American Indian and Alaskan Native group saw an increase in representation, growing from 22.82% to 25.27%. The census also revealed that by 2010, some individuals identified as being of two or more races (2.53%) and Black (1.44%). Both these categories were not represented in the 2000 data. The percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander decreased by 24.55%, while the Hispanic representation also saw a slight drop from 1.48% to 1.26%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 72.36% | 68.23% | -5.71% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 22.82% | 25.27% | 10.74% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 2.53% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 1.44% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.67% | 1.26% | -24.55% |
| Hispanic | 1.48% | 1.26% | -14.86% |