Explore the Family Name Roots
The meaning of Roots
English (Kent): variant of Root, with post-medieval excrescent -s.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Roots in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Roots" saw a slight increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 22,973rd in popularity with 1,040 persons carrying this surname. By 2010, the rank improved to 22,856 with an increased count of 1,120 individuals bearing the name, which marks a growth of around 7.69%. However, when considering the proportion per 100,000 people, there was a slight drop from 0.39 in 2000 to 0.38 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,973 | #22,856 | 0.51% |
| Count | 1,040 | 1,120 | 7.69% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.39 | 0.38 | -2.56% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Roots
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the distribution among those with the surname "Roots" shifted somewhat over the same decade. There were no recorded Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native bearers of the surname in either year. The percentage of those identifying as Black barely changed, moving from 46.73% to 46.88%. The percentage of those belonging to two or more ethnicities rose significantly by 85.66%, from 2.79% to 5.18%. The number of individuals identifying as White decreased by 8.63%, falling from 47.88% to 43.75%. Meanwhile, the Hispanic population with this surname saw a substantial rise of 85.25%, increasing from 1.83% to 3.39%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 46.73% | 46.88% | 0.32% |
| White | 47.88% | 43.75% | -8.63% |
| Two or More Races | 2.79% | 5.18% | 85.66% |
| Hispanic | 1.83% | 3.39% | 85.25% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |