Explore the Family Name Eric
The meaning of Eric
1. Scandinavian and German: from a variant of the personal name Scandinavian Erik, German Erich, from Old Norse Eiríkr, which is composed of ei ‘ever, always’ (or a shortened form of ein ‘one, only’) + rík ‘power’. This surname is rare in Scandinavia and Germany. In North America, it may also be a shortened (and altered) form of patronymics like Erickson. 2. Croatian and Serbian (Erić): patronymic from the nickname Ero, denoting someone from Herzegovina (see Herceg). Compare Erich and Erick. 3. Possibly also an Americanized form of Croatian Erik: from the personal name Erik of Scandinavian origin (see 1 above).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Eric in the United States?
The surname Eric has seen a slight rise in popularity based on the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, Eric was ranked 57,985 but it rose to 57,372 by 2010, marking a 1.06% increase. The count of individuals bearing this surname also increased from 328 in 2000 to 355 in 2010, an increase of 8.23%. However, the proportion per 100,000 people remained the same at 0.12.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #57,985 | #57,372 | 1.06% |
| Count | 328 | 355 | 8.23% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Eric
In terms of ethnic identity, the surname Eric saw significant changes between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census. The number of people identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander more than doubled during this period, increasing by 109.84%, while the Hispanic representation also grew substantially, rising by 103.50%. Furthermore, the percentage identifying as Black rose by 87.57%. On the other hand, representation among those identifying as two or more races and American Indian and Alaskan Native dropped to zero. Meanwhile, the percentage of people with the surname Eric who identify as White decreased by 21.42%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 71.34% | 56.06% | -21.42% |
| Black | 10.06% | 18.87% | 87.57% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 6.71% | 14.08% | 109.84% |
| Hispanic | 4.57% | 9.3% | 103.5% |
| Two or More Races | 5.79% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.52% | 0% | 0% |