Explore the Family Name Rack
The meaning of Rack
1. German (also Räck): from a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name, formed with rag-, from ragin ‘advice, counsel’. 2. German: nickname, in the south from Middle High German rac ‘taut, stiff; flexible, free’, in the north from Middle Low German rak ‘proper, orderly, exact’. 3. German (also Räck): nickname from the dialect word Rack(e) ‘crow’. 4. Germanized or Americanized form of Polish, Sorbian, Ukrainian, Rusyn, Belorussian, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, Croatian, and Serbian Rak ‘crayfish’, Hungarian Rák, and a variant of the same Jewish surname. In part, it is a Gottscheerish (i.e. Gottschee German) surname, originating from the Kočevsko region in Lower Carniola, Slovenia (see Kocevar). 5. English: perhaps a nickname from Middle English rak, rack(e) ‘storm cloud’, used for someone of a brooding demeanor. Some characteristic forenames: German Hermann, Johann, Kaspar, Mathias.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rack in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname "Rack" has seen a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 29,784 but dropped to 31,554 in 2010, indicating a change of -5.94%. The count of individuals with this surname also decreased from 745 to 733, a -1.61% change over the decade. The proportion per 100k people also saw a drop of -10.71%, from 0.28 to 0.25.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #29,784 | #31,554 | -5.94% |
| Count | 745 | 733 | -1.61% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.28 | 0.25 | -10.71% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rack
Looking at the ethnic identity data from the Decennial U.S. Census, there have been some shifts among those carrying the "Rack" surname between 2000 and 2010. For instance, the percentage of Asian/Pacific Islanders with this surname decreased by -16.05%, going from 0.81% to 0.68%. On the other hand, the proportion of individuals identifying as two or more races was not recorded in 2000 but rose to 0.82% in 2010. Those identifying as White remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 93.29% to 93.32%. The Hispanic population with this surname emerged from zero in 2000 to 1.36% in 2010. The Black population with this surname decreased from 5.10% to 3.82%, marking a -25.10% change. Lastly, the American Indian and Alaskan Native population remained static at 0.00%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.29% | 93.32% | 0.03% |
| Black | 5.1% | 3.82% | -25.1% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.36% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0.82% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.81% | 0.68% | -16.05% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |