Explore the Family Name Highland
The meaning of Highland
1. English and Irish (Offaly): variant of Hyland. 2. Americanized form of Norwegian Høyland (see Hoyland). 3. Americanized form (translation into English) of Swedish Högland (see Hogland) or of some other similar (like-sounding) surname, or an adoption of the cognate English surname (see 1 above and Hyland). 4. Americanized form of German Heiland. Compare Hyland.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Highland in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname 'Highland' has somewhat decreased in the United States between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked as the 12,022nd most common surname, while by 2010, it had fallen to the 13,096th spot, marking a decrease of 8.93 percent. The number of individuals with the 'Highland' surname also saw a slight reduction during this period, from 2,384 to 2,342, a negative change of 1.76 percent. Moreover, the proportion of people named 'Highland' per 100,000 residents dropped by 10.23 percent from 0.88 to 0.79.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,022 | #13,096 | -8.93% |
| Count | 2,384 | 2,342 | -1.76% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.88 | 0.79 | -10.23% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Highland
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the 'Highland' surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates some shifts over the decade. Although the majority of individuals identified as White (with percentages of 89.72 in 2000 and 88.86 in 2010), there were notable changes in other ethnicities. Particularly, the Hispanic identity saw a significant increase of 69.31 percent, moving from 1.01 percent in 2000 to 1.71 percent in 2010. Those identifying with two or more races also increased by 28.93 percent. Conversely, the proportion of those who identify as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased by 17.05 percent and 34.78 percent respectively. The Black identity remained fairly stable, with a small increase of 0.47 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 89.72% | 88.86% | -0.96% |
| Black | 6.33% | 6.36% | 0.47% |
| Two or More Races | 1.59% | 2.05% | 28.93% |
| Hispanic | 1.01% | 1.71% | 69.31% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.88% | 0.73% | -17.05% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.46% | 0.3% | -34.78% |