Explore the Family Name Prime
The meaning of Prime
1. English: from a Middle English personal name or nickname. The personal name existed in Old English, and is probably derived from Old English prim ‘early morning’ (from Latin primus ‘first’, used as the name of one of the canonical hours). The surname may be derived from this word as a Middle English nickname in the sense ‘fine, excellent’. 2. Dutch (Primé): of French origin (see 3 below). 3. French: from the feminine form of Prim 2. 4. Americanized form of German Preime, a variant of Primus, or Preim, a topographic name, perhaps from a river near Hanover.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Prime in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Prime" has seen minor fluctuations in popularity over a decade. In 2000, it held the rank of 18,499 but by 2010, it dropped slightly to 18,511, representing a marginal change of -0.06%. The count, however, increased from 1,377 to 1,491 individuals with this surname, marking an 8.28% growth. Interestingly, the proportion of people named Prime per 100,000 remained constant at 0.51.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,499 | #18,511 | -0.06% |
| Count | 1,377 | 1,491 | 8.28% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.51 | 0.51 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Prime
Reviewing the ethnic identity of those carrying the "Prime" surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some changes between 2000 and 2010. There was no record of Asian/Pacific Islanders or American Indians and Alaskan Natives with this last name during these years. However, individuals identifying as having two or more races saw a significant increase of 102.75%, growing from 1.09% to 2.21%. The percentage of white individuals decreased slightly from 73.06% to 69.42%. The Hispanic population grew 17.5%, moving from 3.20% to 3.76%, while the black community increased from 22.00% to 23.61%, a rise of 7.32%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 73.06% | 69.42% | -4.98% |
| Black | 22% | 23.61% | 7.32% |
| Hispanic | 3.2% | 3.76% | 17.5% |
| Two or More Races | 1.09% | 2.21% | 102.75% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |