Explore the Family Name Payson
The meaning of Payson
North German and Danish: variant of Paysen, a patronymic from the personal name Paul.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Payson in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Payson has slightly decreased from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Payson ranked as the 18,909th most common surname in the United States with a total count of 1,336 carriers. However, by 2010, the rank had dropped to 21,237 and the total count to 1,235. This signifies a decrease in popularity by 12.31 percent in rank and 7.56 percent in count over the decade. The proportion per 100,000 people also decreased by 16 percent from 0.5 to 0.42.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,909 | #21,237 | -12.31% |
| Count | 1,336 | 1,235 | -7.56% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.5 | 0.42 | -16% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Payson
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts within the Payson surname bearers from 2000 to 2010. The largest ethnic group associated with this name remains those of White ethnicity, increasing slightly from 90.64 percent in 2000 to 91.26 percent in 2010. However, there were notable increases in Asian/Pacific Islander (from 1.35 percent to 1.86 percent) and Hispanic representation (from 1.87 percent to 2.91 percent). The percentage of individuals identifying as two or more races also increased from 1.8 percent to 2.51 percent. Meanwhile, Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native representation have been reduced to zero by 2010, as indicated by suppressed data for privacy purposes.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 90.64% | 91.26% | 0.68% |
| Hispanic | 1.87% | 2.91% | 55.61% |
| Two or More Races | 1.8% | 2.51% | 39.44% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.35% | 1.86% | 37.78% |
| Black | 3.82% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.52% | 0% | 0% |