Explore the Family Name Hobby
The meaning of Hobby
English: 1. from the Middle English personal name Hoby, a shortened form of Hobin. See Hobbins. 2. occasionally perhaps a nickname from Middle English hobi ‘small species of hawk’ (Old French hobet, hobé, a diminutive form of Old French hobe ‘small bird of prey)’. 3. possibly from a Middle English personal name Oby with prosthetic H-. This would be identical in origin with Opie, a Cornwall and Devon pet form of Osbert (see Hobart) or Osbern (see Osborne). 4. habitational name from Hoby (Leicestershire), from Old English hōh ‘heel, spur of land’ + Old Norse bȳ ‘farmstead, village’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Hobby in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Hobby witnessed a slight fluctuation in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Hobby ranked at 10,404 but dropped to 11,122 by 2010, indicating a decrease of 6.9%. Despite this, the number of individuals with the Hobby surname saw a marginal increase during the same period, growing from 2,839 to 2,851 or a rise of 0.42%. However, its overall proportion in relation to the total population decreased by 7.62%, moving from 1.05 per 100k people in 2000 to 0.97 per 100k in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,404 | #11,122 | -6.9% |
| Count | 2,839 | 2,851 | 0.42% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.05 | 0.97 | -7.62% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Hobby
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Hobby also experienced some changes, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In terms of ethnicity, most bearers of the Hobby surname identified as White, accounting for 87.00% in 2000 and decreasing slightly to 86.92% in 2010. Individuals identifying as Black comprised the second highest percentage at 9.55% in 2000, which further declined to 9.01% by 2010. The largest change was observed within the Hispanic group, witnessing an increase of 35.85%, even though it made up only a small fraction of the total (1.06% in 2000 and 1.44% in 2010). The percentage of those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native also increased significantly, jumping by 64.29%, despite constituting less than half a percent of the total. The Asian/Pacific Islander and those identifying as two or more races saw relatively minor changes over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 87% | 86.92% | -0.09% |
| Black | 9.55% | 9.01% | -5.65% |
| Two or More Races | 1.73% | 1.79% | 3.47% |
| Hispanic | 1.06% | 1.44% | 35.85% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.28% | 0.46% | 64.29% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.39% | 0.39% | 0% |