Explore the Family Name Norfolk

The meaning of Norfolk

English: habitational name from the county of Norfolk in East Anglia, so called from an Old English tribal name composed of the elements north ‘north’ + folc ‘people’ (in contrast to the sūthfolc of Suffolk).

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Norfolk in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Norfolk has seen some slight changes between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Norfolk was ranked as the 25,221st most popular surname in the United States. By 2010, it had dropped to the 25,902nd position, a decrease of 2.7%. However, the number of individuals with the Norfolk surname increased from 922 to 949 during this period, growing by approximately 2.93%. The proportion of individuals with this surname per 100,000 people decreased by 5.88%, moving from 0.34 to 0.32.

20002010Change
Rank#25,221#25,902-2.7%
Count9229492.93%
Proportion per 100k0.340.32-5.88%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Norfolk

Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname Norfolk, it's essential to note that the data is derived from the Decennial U.S. Census. As of 2000, the majority of people bearing this surname identified as White (76.90%), followed by Black (17.79%), Hispanic (2.71%), and individuals identifying with two or more races (1.84%). By 2010, there were shifts within these proportions. The percentage of individuals identifying as White decreased slightly to 74.29%, while those identifying as Black increased to 20.23%. There was a notable increase in the Hispanic proportion, which rose to 3.27%. The proportion of individuals identifying with two or more races also saw a minor decline to 1.69%. No individuals with this surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.

20002010Change
White76.9%74.29%-3.39%
Black17.79%20.23%13.72%
Hispanic2.71%3.27%20.66%
Two or More Races1.84%1.69%-8.15%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%