Explore the Family Name Locust
The meaning of Locust
1. Native American (Cherokee): translation into English (and shortening) of a personal name based on Cherokee kulsetsi ‘honey locust’, by extension also ‘sugar’. This surname is found mainly in OK and also in NC. 2. African American: altered form of Lucas or Lucus. It may also be of Native American origin (see 1 above). 3. English: unexplained. This surname has died out in Britain. Compare Locus 1.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Locust in the United States?
The surname "Locust" ranked 35,387 in popularity in the year 2000 based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census. By the next census in 2010, it had dropped slightly to rank 36,525, showing a decrease of 3.22%. However, the actual count of individuals with this surname increased from 602 in 2000 to 612 in 2010, a growth of 1.66%. The proportion per 100k also saw a decrease of 4.55%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #35,387 | #36,525 | -3.22% |
| Count | 602 | 612 | 1.66% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.22 | 0.21 | -4.55% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Locust
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the ethnic identities associated with the surname "Locust" have shown some shifts between 2000 and 2010. In both years, no Asian/Pacific Islander identity was recorded. The representation of those identifying as two or more races grew by 37.23%. White identity decreased slightly by 7.57%, while Hispanic identity more than doubled, increasing by 103.61%. Black identity saw a minimal decrease of 0.86% over the decade, and American Indian and Alaskan Native identity also decreased by 8.72%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 41.86% | 41.5% | -0.86% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 39.2% | 35.78% | -8.72% |
| White | 10.96% | 10.13% | -7.57% |
| Two or More Races | 5.48% | 7.52% | 37.23% |
| Hispanic | 2.49% | 5.07% | 103.61% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |