Explore the Family Name Island
The meaning of Island
Norwegian: habitational name from any of the four farmsteads so named. The origin of their name is not certain; it may be a compound of is ‘ice’ + land ‘(piece of) land, farmstead’ or from Island ‘Iceland’ (the name of the country).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Island in the United States?
According to the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname 'Island' saw a minor increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Island was ranked as the 26,642nd most popular surname in the United States, but by 2010, it had moved up to the 25,381st spot, marking a 4.73% increase in rank. The actual count of individuals bearing the surname also increased during this period, from 860 in 2000 to 975 in 2010, representing a significant growth rate of 13.37%. Meanwhile, the proportion per 100,000 people rose subtly from 0.32 to 0.33, showing a slight growth of 3.13%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #26,642 | #25,381 | 4.73% |
| Count | 860 | 975 | 13.37% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.32 | 0.33 | 3.13% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Island
When considering the ethnic identity associated with the surname 'Island', based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there's been a shift in the ethnic makeup of those bearing the name from 2000 to 2010. Interestingly, the percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native dropped to zero in 2010, whereas the Hispanic representation increased by over half (50.63%). Those identifying as Black decreased slightly by 5.21%, though still remained as the majority with 63.49% in 2010. Individuals identifying as two or more races rose by nearly a quarter (23.98%) and those identifying as White saw a modest increase of 1.44%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 66.98% | 63.49% | -5.21% |
| White | 20.12% | 20.41% | 1.44% |
| Two or More Races | 4.88% | 6.05% | 23.98% |
| Hispanic | 3.95% | 5.95% | 50.63% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.93% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 3.14% | 0% | 0% |