Explore the Family Name Musk
The meaning of Musk
1. English (mainly Suffolk): variant of Must. 2. English (mainly Suffolk): alternatively, perhaps in some cases, from Middle English muske ‘musk’ (Old French musc). As well as denoting the fragrant secretion from the oriental musk deer (used for perfume and in medicines), the word was sometimes applied to the sap of tree and other plants. This English surname may also be of Dutch origin (see 4 below). 3. Americanized form of Dutch Musch ‘sparrow’. 4. Dutch: nickname or metonymic occupational name from muskus ‘musk’ (see 2 above). This surname is very rare in the Nertherlands.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Musk in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Musk has seen a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 70,273rd most common surname and by 2010, it fell slightly to 73,005th. However, the actual count of individuals with the surname Musk increased slightly during this decade, from 260 to 266, indicating a 2.31% growth. The proportion of people with the Musk surname per 100,000 population also decreased by 10% over this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #70,273 | #73,005 | -3.89% |
| Count | 260 | 266 | 2.31% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.1 | 0.09 | -10% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Musk
In terms of ethnicity, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the majority of individuals with the Musk surname identify as White. In 2000, this figure was 96.92%, decreasing slightly to 93.98% in 2010. Interestingly, no individuals with the Musk surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either 2000 or 2010. There was a small percentage (1.92% in 2000 and 1.88% in 2010) who identified as belonging to two or more races. Notably, while there were no individuals identifying as Hispanic in the year 2000, by 2010, this category saw growth with 2.63% of Musks identifying as Hispanic.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.92% | 93.98% | -3.03% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.63% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.92% | 1.88% | -2.08% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |