Explore the Family Name Laakso
The meaning of Laakso
Finnish: mostly an ornamental name from laakso ‘valley, dale’, but occasionally a habitational name from farms so named (compare Lakso). Adopted as a hereditary surname in western, southern, and central Finland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (compare Laine 4), also to replace Swedish surnames, especially those containing Swedish dal ‘dale’. Some characteristic forenames: Finnish Toini, Eino, Aarre, Arvo, Eero, Jorma, Olavi, Tarja, Tauno, Toivo, Veikko. Scandinavian Erik, Hilma, Nels, Viljo.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Laakso in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Laakso has seen a slight decline from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the surname ranked at 35,106 in terms of prevalence and was held by 608 individuals. By 2010, however, the rank had fallen to 36,788 and the count of individuals carrying the name had decreased marginally to 607. This indicates a minimal change of -0.16%. The proportion of individuals with this surname per 100,000 people also decreased by 8.7%, from 0.23 in 2000 to 0.21 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #35,106 | #36,788 | -4.79% |
| Count | 608 | 607 | -0.16% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.23 | 0.21 | -8.7% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Laakso
Turning attention to the ethnicity associated with the surname Laakso, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there has been a small shift observed. In 2000, 97.20% of those with this surname identified as White, dropping slightly to 95.55% in 2010. During the same period, identification as Asian/Pacific Islander increased from 1.32% to 1.65%, and those identifying with two or more races rose from 1.15% to 1.32%. Interestingly, the percentage of individuals identifying as Hispanic went from 0% in 2000 to 0.99% in 2010, while the percentages for Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native remained stagnant at 0% throughout the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.2% | 95.55% | -1.7% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.32% | 1.65% | 25% |
| Two or More Races | 1.15% | 1.32% | 14.78% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0.99% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |