Explore the Family Name Orphan
The meaning of Orphan
English: apparently a nickname from Middle English orphan, orphen ‘orphan, abandoned child’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Orphan in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Orphan saw slight declines in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it ranked 83,618th in frequency and dropped to 91,625th by 2010, a decrease of approximately 9.58%. The number of people sporting the Orphan surname also decreased from 209 in 2000 to 201 in 2010, indicating a -3.83% change. Its proportion per 100,000 people fell from 0.08 to 0.07, reflecting a 12.5% drop.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #83,618 | #91,625 | -9.58% |
| Count | 209 | 201 | -3.83% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.08 | 0.07 | -12.5% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Orphan
With regards to ethnicity, again based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the majority of individuals with the Orphan surname identify as White, although the percentage slightly decreased from 88.04% in 2000 to 87.56% in 2010. During the same time period, the proportion identifying as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native both increased slightly, from 2.39% to 2.49% and 6.70% to 6.97% respectively. No individuals with the Orphan surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or of Two or more races in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 88.04% | 87.56% | -0.55% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 6.7% | 6.97% | 4.03% |
| Hispanic | 2.39% | 2.49% | 4.18% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |