Explore the Family Name Karen
The meaning of Karen
1. Czech: from Kara or Kára, derivatives of the personal name Karel (see Charles). 2. Jewish (Israeli): from the Hebrew noun meaning ‘ray (of sunlight)’, a Hebraicized form of some original Ashkenazic surname. Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Ari, Aron, Gidon, Shoshana.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Karen in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Karen" decreased significantly between 2000 and 2010. Its rank fell by approximately 31.77%, moving from 27,848 in 2000 to 36,695 a decade later. The count of individuals with this surname also saw a decline of about 25%, dropping from 812 in 2000 to 609 in 2010. This led to a decrease in the proportion per 100,000 people, going from 0.3 in 2000 to 0.21 in 2010, reflecting a drop of around 30%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #27,848 | #36,695 | -31.77% |
| Count | 812 | 609 | -25% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.3 | 0.21 | -30% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Karen
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates shifts in the ethnic identities associated with the surname "Karen" between 2000 and 2010. The largest increase was seen among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, which rose by an impressive 315.15% over the decade. The percentage of those identifying as Hispanic also increased, rising by 63.81%. However, there were decreases in other areas, such as those identifying as White and Black, which fell by 5.53% and 14.31% respectively. There were also some instances where data was suppressed for privacy reasons, like those identifying as Two or more races and American Indian and Alaskan Native in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 86.21% | 81.44% | -5.53% |
| Hispanic | 4.31% | 7.06% | 63.81% |
| Black | 5.17% | 4.43% | -14.31% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.99% | 4.11% | 315.15% |
| Two or More Races | 2.71% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.62% | 0% | 0% |