Explore the Family Name First
The meaning of First
1. German: variant of Fürst (see Furst) and, in North America, (also) an altered form of this. 2. Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): artificial name from Yiddish first ‘prince’. 3. Slovenian and Croatian (Firšt): nickname from firšt ‘prince’, an archaic or dialect loanword from German Fürst (see Furst and above).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name First in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "First" has decreased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 16,314th in terms of frequency, but by 2010, it had dropped to 20,971st, a decline of approximately 28.55%. The actual count of individuals with this last name also fell from 1,626 in 2000 to 1,255 in 2010, marking a decrease of 22.82%. Consequently, the proportion per 100,000 people also declined by 28.33% over this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,314 | #20,971 | -28.55% |
| Count | 1,626 | 1,255 | -22.82% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.6 | 0.43 | -28.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name First
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of individuals with the surname "First" identified as White, although the percentage slightly dropped from 87.15% in 2000 to 85.58% in 2010. There were no reported instances of this surname among Asian/Pacific Islander or those identifying as two or more races for both years. The representation of Hispanics and American Indian and Alaskan Natives within this surname group increased over the decade, with Hispanics rising from 1.48% to 2.07% and American Indian and Alaskan Natives increasing from 2.64% to 3.35%. The proportion of Black individuals with this surname also rose slightly, from 7.20% in 2000 to 7.65% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 87.15% | 85.58% | -1.8% |
| Black | 7.2% | 7.65% | 6.25% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 2.64% | 3.35% | 26.89% |
| Hispanic | 1.48% | 2.07% | 39.86% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |