Explore the Family Name Kettle
The meaning of Kettle
1. English: from the Middle English personal name Ketel, Kitel (Old Norse Ketill, meaning ‘kettle, cauldron’, perhaps also ‘helmet’). 2. Americanized form (translation into English) of German Kessel. 3. Irish: in Ireland, this generally is the English name in 1 above, but in some cases it may also be an Anglicized form of Mac Thorcaill (see McCorkell).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kettle in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Kettle" has notably increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Kettle was ranked 17,619 in terms of its prevalence, but by 2010 it had risen to a rank of 14,307, representing an increase of 18.8%. The count of individuals carrying this name also saw a substantial growth of 42.41% during this period, jumping from 1,469 people in 2000 to 2,092 in 2010. This rise led to an increase in the proportion of people with this last name per 100,000 residents, which went up by 31.48%, from 0.54 in 2000 to 0.71 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,619 | #14,307 | 18.8% |
| Count | 1,469 | 2,092 | 42.41% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.54 | 0.71 | 31.48% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kettle
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname Kettle, the Decennial U.S. Census provides some insights into changes over the same decade. The largest group identifying as having the surname Kettle in both years were of White ethnicity, although their percentage dropped slightly by 1.49% from 85.84% in 2000 to 84.56% in 2010. In contrast, Hispanics who identified with the surname Kettle appeared in the 2010 census for the first time, accounting for 2.34%. Likewise, Asian/Pacific Islanders also made a small appearance in the 2010 records, making up 0.48% of the total. Both the Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native categories saw minor decreases in this period. The proportion of people with the Kettle surname identifying as two or more races increased by 6.37%, from 1.57% in 2000 to 1.67% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 85.84% | 84.56% | -1.49% |
| Black | 6.54% | 6.26% | -4.28% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 4.97% | 4.68% | -5.84% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.34% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.57% | 1.67% | 6.37% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.48% | 0% |