Explore the Family Name Laurel
The meaning of Laurel
Spanish: topographic name for someone who lived by a laurel tree, Spanish laurel (from Latin laurus), or a habitational name from Laurel in the Canary Islands. This surname is rare in Spain; it is found mainly in Mexico and the Philippines. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Carlos, Angel, Jesus, Ruben, Adolfo, Alfredo, Alonzo, Araceli, Armando, Humberto, Jorge, Leticia.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Laurel in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Laurel showed a modest rise in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Laurel was ranked as the 15,217th most common surname, but by 2010 it had moved up to the 14,920th position, indicating an increase of 1.95% over the decade. The total count of people with this family name also expanded from 1,775 in 2000 to 1,984 in 2010, marking a 11.77% growth. Furthermore, the proportion per 100k of population saw a slight uptick from 0.66 to 0.67, demonstrating a 1.52% increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,217 | #14,920 | 1.95% |
| Count | 1,775 | 1,984 | 11.77% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.66 | 0.67 | 1.52% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Laurel
Turning to ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts in the ethnic identity associated with the surname Laurel from 2000 to 2010. The majority of individuals bearing this surname identified as Hispanic, increasing from 47.83% to 49.60%. Representation among Asian/Pacific Islanders decreased slightly from 16.68% to 16.18%, while the proportion identifying as white also dipped from 23.04% to 22.53%. The percentage of those with two or more ethnic identities increased from 2.31% to 3.07%. Meanwhile, the proportion identifying as Black decreased significantly from 9.75% to 8.01%. Notably, the representation of American Indian and Alaskan Natives, though still a very small percentage of the total, saw the largest rate of growth, rising from 0.39% to 0.60%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 47.83% | 49.6% | 3.7% |
| White | 23.04% | 22.53% | -2.21% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 16.68% | 16.18% | -3% |
| Black | 9.75% | 8.01% | -17.85% |
| Two or More Races | 2.31% | 3.07% | 32.9% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.39% | 0.6% | 53.85% |