Explore the Family Name Phoenix
The meaning of Phoenix
1. English (northern) and Scottish: variant of Fenwick, with post-medieval excrescent -s, re-spelled as the word phoenix, the mythical Arabian bird that burns itself to ashes before resurrecting in all its gorgeous plumage. 2. Altered form of French Phénix (see Phenix).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Phoenix in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Phoenix has been on the rise from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Phoenix was ranked as the 10,394th most popular surname. However, by 2010, it had climbed to the 9,745th position, indicating a growth in popularity by 6.24%. Alongside the increase in rank, the count of individuals with this surname also surged from 2,841 in 2000 to 3,326 in 2010, marking an increase of 17.07%. The proportion of people named Phoenix per 100,000 also increased by 7.62% during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,394 | #9,745 | 6.24% |
| Count | 2,841 | 3,326 | 17.07% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.05 | 1.13 | 7.62% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Phoenix
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Phoenix also showed some shifts between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The percentage of Phoenix individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander more than doubled from 0.46% to 0.93%. Those reporting two or more races increased by 52.61%, while the Hispanic population saw a 27.20% rise. However, there were decreases in some categories. The proportion of White individuals slightly decreased by 0.53%, the percentage of Black individuals decreased by 4.35%, and the American Indian and Alaskan Native category fell by 17.05%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 53.29% | 53.01% | -0.53% |
| Black | 37.66% | 36.02% | -4.35% |
| Two or More Races | 2.68% | 4.09% | 52.61% |
| Hispanic | 2.39% | 3.04% | 27.2% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 3.52% | 2.92% | -17.05% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.46% | 0.93% | 102.17% |
Phoenix ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Phoenix is British & Irish, which comprises 44.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (18.4%) and Nigerian (5.0%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Spanish & Portuguese, Scandinavian, Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, and Italian.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 44.1% |
| French & German | 18.4% |
| Nigerian | 5.0% |
| Other | 32.4% |
Possible origins of the surname Phoenix
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Phoenix have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 75.60% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 75.60% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 75.60% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 74.80% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 74.80% |
What Phoenix haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Phoenix is R-CTS241, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS241 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L20 and E-P179, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Milner, Usher, Marti, Smythe, Denis, Kent, Fenner, Morris, Keene, Biddle.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Phoenix surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Phoenix have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Phoenix" Surname 33.3%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Phoenix" Surname 21.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Phoenix" Surname 12.2%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Phoenix" Surname 26.9%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Phoenix?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Phoenix are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition