Explore the Family Name Esther
The meaning of Esther
1. Jewish, German, and French: from the female name Esther, from Hebrew Ester, the name borne in the Bible by a Jewish captive of the Persian king Ahasuerus. According to the Biblical story, she became his favorite concubine and by her wise persuasion managed to save the Jews of Persia from the machinations of the royal counselor Haman. Her name is probably a derivative of Persian esther ‘star’. 2. Altered form of English Hester. Some characteristic forenames: French Andre, Odette, Prosper, Yves.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Esther in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Esther saw a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In the year 2000, Esther was ranked 38,263rd in terms of popularity and by 2010, it had slipped to 40,672nd, marking a decrease of 6.3%. The census count for this surname also mirrored this trend, falling from 544 in 2000 to 537 in 2010, representing a dip of 1.29%. Consequently, the proportion of people with the Esther surname per 100,000 individuals also dwindled by 10% over this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #38,263 | #40,672 | -6.3% |
| Count | 544 | 537 | -1.29% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.2 | 0.18 | -10% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Esther
The Decennial U.S. Census data provides insight into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Esther. There was an observable shift in the ethnicity distribution between 2000 and 2010. While there were no individuals of Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity with the Esther surname in 2000, by 2010 they made up 1.49% of all Esthers. The proportion of individuals identifying as two or more races disappeared completely over this period. The percentage of individuals identifying as White dropped by 9.02% to 50.84%, while those identifying as Hispanic reduced by 23.25% to 8.75%. Meanwhile, the Black community saw a notable increase in the usage of the Esther surname, rising by 29.85% to 37.24%. The American Indian and Alaskan Native category remained consistent with no recorded individuals bearing the Esther surname in both 2000 and 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 55.88% | 50.84% | -9.02% |
| Black | 28.68% | 37.24% | 29.85% |
| Hispanic | 11.4% | 8.75% | -23.25% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.49% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 2.39% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |