Explore the Family Name Prophet
The meaning of Prophet
Scottish, English, and German: nickname from Middle English and Old French prophete, Middle High German prophēt ‘prophet, seer’, ultimately from Greek prophētēs ‘predictor’, from pro ‘before’ + a derivative of phēmi ‘to speak’. In North America, this surname name may have absorbed some cases of the Greek cognate Profitis. Some characteristic forenames: French Antoine, Ignace, Magalie, Pierre.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Prophet in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Prophet has shown a slight increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Prophet was ranked as the 16,665th most common surname, and by 2010, it had risen to the 15,938th spot, indicating a 4.36% change. The count of individuals with this surname also grew from 1,582 in 2000 to 1,823 in 2010, marking a 15.23% increase. Moreover, the proportion of people named Prophet per 100,000 increased by 5.08% over the same decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,665 | #15,938 | 4.36% |
| Count | 1,582 | 1,823 | 15.23% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.59 | 0.62 | 5.08% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Prophet
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Prophet has also shifted somewhat over the course of a decade, according to the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, no individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native, but by 2010, these proportions had changed to 0.27% and 0.66%, respectively. The percentage of individuals with the Prophet surname who identify as two or more races saw a substantial increase, rising by nearly 40%. While the majority of those bearing the surname Prophet still identify as Black (52.39% in 2010), this number did see a small decrease from 52.65% in 2000. Notably, the Hispanic population with this surname experienced a dramatic rise, increasing by over 230%. However, the White population saw a slight decrease, from 43.49% in 2000 to 41.03% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 52.65% | 52.39% | -0.49% |
| White | 43.49% | 41.03% | -5.66% |
| Hispanic | 0.88% | 2.91% | 230.68% |
| Two or More Races | 1.96% | 2.74% | 39.8% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.66% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.27% | 0% |