Explore the Family Name Neat
The meaning of Neat
English: from Middle English neat ‘ox, cow’ (Old English nēat), probably applied as a metonymic occupational name for a cowherd, or a nickname for someone thought to bear some resemblance to the animal. The modern English adjective neat (via French from Latin nitidus ‘clean, shining’) does not occur before the 16th century, after the main period of surname formation.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Neat in the United States?
According to the Popularity table based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Neat saw a slight increase in its rank from 40,908 in 2000 to 40,494 in 2010. This represents a change of 1.01%. In terms of actual count, the number of individuals with the surname Neat went up from 503 to 540 during the same period, marking a growth rate of 7.36%. However, the proportion of individuals with this surname per 100,000 people experienced a minor decrease of -5.26%, moving from 0.19 in 2000 to 0.18 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #40,908 | #40,494 | 1.01% |
| Count | 503 | 540 | 7.36% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.19 | 0.18 | -5.26% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Neat
The Ethnicity table derived from the Decennial U.S. Census shows that the ethnic identity associated with the surname Neat has undergone some changes between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as White remained largely steady at around 78%, with a minuscule decrease of -0.27%. There was a notable rise in those identifying as Hispanic, from 0.99% to 2.41%, equating to a change of 143.43%. Meanwhile, the proportion of those identifying as Black saw a small decrease of -9.01%, moving from 17.10% to 15.56%. Interestingly, there were no individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander in 2000, but by 2010, they represented 2.22% of those with the Neat surname. The category of two or more races was present in 2000 at 2.78% but disappeared completely by 2010. No individuals identified as American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 78.73% | 78.52% | -0.27% |
| Black | 17.1% | 15.56% | -9.01% |
| Hispanic | 0.99% | 2.41% | 143.43% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 2.22% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 2.78% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |