Explore the Family Name Factor
The meaning of Factor
1. American shortened and altered form of Jewish (from Poland) Faktorowicz: patronymic from faktor, an occupational name meaning ‘broker, agent’ in Polish. 2. German: humanistic surname, a translation into Latin of any of various surnames meaning ‘steward’ or ‘agent’, for example Hoffmann or Meyer. In North America, this surname may also be an altered form of the variant Faktor. Both forms of the surname are rare in Germany. 3. Americanized form of Czech and Slovak Faktor: occupational name from faktor, denoting an agent, i.e. an intermediary between the employer and the workers, or a head of the working group. History: Max Factor, Sr, an American beautician and businessman of Polish-Jewish descent, was born Maksymilian Faktorowicz (in 1872). He and his family moved from Poland to the US in 1904, following his brother and uncle.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Factor in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Factor" showed a slight decrease in rank from 2000 to 2010, moving from 16,022 to 16,031. However, an increase was observed in the count of people with this surname, which rose by 8.78%, from 1,663 to 1,809 during the same period. The proportion per 100k population slightly decreased by 1.61%, indicating that while the number of individuals named Factor increased, its overall popularity relative to other surnames dropped marginally.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,022 | #16,031 | -0.06% |
| Count | 1,663 | 1,809 | 8.78% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.62 | 0.61 | -1.61% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Factor
The ethnic identity associated with the surname "Factor" also underwent shifts between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census. While the proportion of White individuals with this surname decreased by 11.51%, from 65.84% to 58.26%, there were increases in the percentage of Asian/Pacific Islander (from 3.43% to 4.53%) and Hispanic (from 10.28% to 13.21%) identities. Notably, the group identifying as Two or More Races saw a significant rise of 37.74%. There was a small decrease in the Black community, from 2.41% to 2.10%. Finally, American Indian and Alaskan Native identities increased from 15.39% to 18.24%, showing the diversifying ethnic representation among those bearing the surname "Factor".
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 65.84% | 58.26% | -11.51% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 15.39% | 18.24% | 18.52% |
| Hispanic | 10.28% | 13.21% | 28.5% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.43% | 4.53% | 32.07% |
| Two or More Races | 2.65% | 3.65% | 37.74% |
| Black | 2.41% | 2.1% | -12.86% |