Explore the Family Name Nettle
The meaning of Nettle
1. English (Cornwall): from Middle English netle ‘nettle’ (Old English netel). Various figurative uses of the word (‘enemy, sin, vice’) are recorded in the medieval period, alluding to the nettle’s sting. See Nettles. 2. Altered form of North German Nettel, a nickname for an obnoxious person, from Middle Low German nettel ‘nettle’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Nettle in the United States?
According to data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Nettle has seen a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Nettle ranked 37,429th in terms of popularity, while falling to 48,901st by 2010—a decrease of around 30.65%. The number of individuals with the Nettle surname also dropped from 560 in 2000 to 431 in 2010, indicating a 23.04% reduction in prevalence. This shift sees the proportion per 100,000 people with this surname falling from 0.21 to 0.15, marking a decrease of approximately 28.57%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #37,429 | #48,901 | -30.65% |
| Count | 560 | 431 | -23.04% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.21 | 0.15 | -28.57% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Nettle
On the matter of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates certain changes for those bearing the Nettle surname between the years 2000 and 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander disappeared entirely, going from 1.25% to nil. Meanwhile, those identifying as two or more races appeared at 1.16% in 2010, having not been represented in 2000. The majority of Nettles were identified as white, with an insignificant change from 85.89% to 85.61%. There was a minor increase in Hispanic representation, rising from 2.86% to 3.71%, while the black demographic showed a negligible decline from 8.39% to 8.35%. No American Indian and Alaskan Native representation was reported in both census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 85.89% | 85.61% | -0.33% |
| Black | 8.39% | 8.35% | -0.48% |
| Hispanic | 2.86% | 3.71% | 29.72% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.16% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.25% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |