Explore the Family Name Ephraim
The meaning of Ephraim
Jewish, Welsh, West Indian, and African (e.g. Nigeria and Tanzania): from the Biblical personal name Ephraim, a Latinized form of Hebrew Efrayim, from a word meaning ‘fruitful’. In Genesis 41:52, Ephraim is one of the sons of Joseph and founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In Wales it is found as a late surname derived from use of the Biblical name as a personal name among Nonconformists. Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Isidor, Yariv, Yoel.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ephraim in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Ephraim has seen an increase between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Ephraim was ranked 24,744th in terms of surname popularity in the United States, but by 2010 it had moved up to 23,691st, marking a 4.26% rise. The actual count of individuals with the surname also grew from 945 to 1,069, which is an increase of 13.12% across a decade. When measured as a proportion per 100,000 people, the presence of this surname expanded from 0.35 to 0.36, a growth rate of 2.86%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #24,744 | #23,691 | 4.26% |
| Count | 945 | 1,069 | 13.12% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.35 | 0.36 | 2.86% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ephraim
In regards to ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data suggests some shifts among those bearing the Ephraim surname between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the majority of those with the Ephraim name identified as Black (51.32%), followed by White (41.90%), Two or more races (2.75%), Hispanic (2.65%), and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.38%). By 2010, the proportion identifying as Black increased to 58.00%, while the percentage of Whites dropped to 34.24%. The category of Two or more races saw a substantial increase, rising to 3.65%, along with a slight increase among those identifying as Hispanic (2.90%). The representation of Asian/Pacific Islanders, however, declined to 1.22%. There was no recorded change in the American Indian and Alaskan Native category during this period, remaining at 0.00%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 51.32% | 58% | 13.02% |
| White | 41.9% | 34.24% | -18.28% |
| Two or More Races | 2.75% | 3.65% | 32.73% |
| Hispanic | 2.65% | 2.9% | 9.43% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.38% | 1.22% | -11.59% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |