Explore the Family Name Ferdinand
The meaning of Ferdinand
German, French, English, and West Indian (mainly Haiti): from an ancient Visigothic personal name composed of the elements farthu ‘journey, expedition’ (or a metathesized form of frithu ‘peace’) + nanths ‘daring, brave’. As a surname this is of comparatively recent origin in German-speaking countries and in France, for the personal name was not introduced from Spain (see Fernando) until the late 15th century. It was brought to Austria by the Habsburg dynasty, among whom it was a hereditary name, and from Austria it spread to France. Iberian cognates are of more ancient origin and more frequently found today, since the name was much favored in the royal house of Castile. It owes its popularity in large part to King Ferdinand III of Castile and León (1198–1252), who recaptured large areas of Spain from the Moors and was later canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. Some characteristic forenames: French Andre, Michel, Alain, Cecile, Dieudonne, Jean Robert, Ludger, Magalie, Micheline.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ferdinand in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Ferdinand has increased in popularity in the United States over a 10-year period. In 2000, it was ranked 12,616th most common, while by 2010, it had risen to 11,653rd position, showing a positive change of 7.63%. The number of people carrying the surname also saw a significant increase, growing from 2,251 in 2000 to 2,690 in 2010 — a growth rate of 19.5%. Furthermore, the proportion of individuals named Ferdinand per 100,000 people increased by 9.64% during that same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,616 | #11,653 | 7.63% |
| Count | 2,251 | 2,690 | 19.5% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.83 | 0.91 | 9.64% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ferdinand
When looking at the ethnicity associated with the Ferdinand surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals several shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander more than doubled, increasing by 81.63%. Conversely, those identifying with two or more races decreased by 44.50%. The majority of individuals with the Ferdinand surname are either White or Black, but both groups experienced changes in opposite directions. White decreased by 19.12%, while Black increased by 16.81%. The Hispanic representation also grew by 37.39%. However, those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased slightly, by 27.78%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 46.47% | 54.28% | 16.81% |
| White | 43.67% | 35.32% | -19.12% |
| Hispanic | 4.44% | 6.1% | 37.39% |
| Two or More Races | 4.09% | 2.27% | -44.5% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.98% | 1.78% | 81.63% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.36% | 0.26% | -27.78% |