Explore the Family Name Maxim
The meaning of Maxim
1. English: apparently from the (unrecorded) Middle English personal name Maxim of Latin origin (see 2 below). 2. Romanian: from the personal name Maxim, from Latin Maximus ‘greatest’ (superlative of magnus ‘great’; compare Magnus), borne by a number of early Christian saints. 3. American shortened form of Serbian Maksimović (see Maksimovic), a patronymic from the personal name Maksim (see 2 above).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Maxim in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Maxim has seen a rise in popularity from 2000 to 2010. The ranking of this surname improved from 17,719 in 2000 to 16,575 in 2010, marking a 6.46% increase. The number of individuals carrying the Maxim surname also saw an uptick during this period, rising by 18.72% from 1,458 in 2000 to 1,731 in 2010. Consequently, the proportion of people with the Maxim surname per 100k population increased by 9.26%, shifting from 0.54 in 2000 to 0.59 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,719 | #16,575 | 6.46% |
| Count | 1,458 | 1,731 | 18.72% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.54 | 0.59 | 9.26% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Maxim
Looking at the ethnic identity associated with the Maxim surname, there have been significant changes over the decade according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2010, 87.98% of Maxims identified as White, down 4.06% from 91.7% in 2000. There was a remarkable increase in the Asian/Pacific Islander category, which surged by 430.65%, going from 0.62% in 2000 to 3.29% in 2010. Those identifying as Hispanic increased by 53.65%, moving from 1.92% in 2000 to 2.95% in 2010. The percentage of Maxims identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native also rose by 29.23%. However, there were slight dips in the categories of Black (-5.56%) and those identifying with two or more races (-12.03%).
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.7% | 87.98% | -4.06% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.62% | 3.29% | 430.65% |
| Hispanic | 1.92% | 2.95% | 53.65% |
| Black | 2.88% | 2.72% | -5.56% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.3% | 1.68% | 29.23% |
| Two or More Races | 1.58% | 1.39% | -12.03% |