Explore the Family Name Harvard
The meaning of Harvard
English and Welsh: variant of Havard. History: John Harvard (1607–38), who gave his name to Harvard College, was the son of a London butcher. He inherited considerable property, and emigrated to MA in 1637. On his death he bequeathed half his estate and the whole of his library to the newly founded college at Cambridge, MA.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Harvard in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Harvard has slightly declined over the past decade, moving from rank 22,799 in 2000 to 23,222 in 2010, a decrease of approximately 1.86%. However, the number of individuals with the surname Harvard increased by 4.57%, from 1,050 in 2000 to 1,098 people in 2010. The surname's proportion per 100,000 people also decreased by 5.13% during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,799 | #23,222 | -1.86% |
| Count | 1,050 | 1,098 | 4.57% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.39 | 0.37 | -5.13% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Harvard
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates that the majority of individuals with the surname Harvard identified as either White or Black in both 2000 and 2010. In 2000, 57.71% identified as White and 38% as Black. By 2010, these figures had shifted to 54.19% identifying as White and 40.16% as Black – a decrease of 6.10% for Whites and an increase of 5.68% for Blacks. The percentage of Harvards identifying as Hispanic also saw a significant increase, from 1.14% in 2000 to 1.64% in 2010 – a change of 43.86%. The percentage of Harvards identifying with two or more races increased from 2% to 2.28% during this period, an increase of 14%. No Harvards reportedly identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 57.71% | 54.19% | -6.1% |
| Black | 38% | 40.16% | 5.68% |
| Two or More Races | 2% | 2.28% | 14% |
| Hispanic | 1.14% | 1.64% | 43.86% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |