Explore the Family Name Strange
The meaning of Strange
1. English (Wiltshire and Gloucestershire): nickname for a newcomer to a district, from Middle English strange ‘foreign’ (Old French estrange, Latin extraneus, from extra ‘outside’). 2. Irish (Antrim): this name is also common in Ireland, where, in addition to its English etymology, it may represent an Anglicized form of any of several Irish names containing the element gall ‘stranger’, e.g. Doyle, Gallagher.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Strange in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Strange experienced a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 2282 in terms of frequency among all surnames, but by 2010, it had slipped to 2425, marking a decrease of 6.27%. Despite this drop in ranking, the actual count of people with the surname Strange increased from 14,582 to 14,948 during the same time period, indicating a growth of 2.51%. The proportion of individuals named Strange per 100,000 population also decreased slightly, from 5.41 to 5.07.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,282 | #2,425 | -6.27% |
| Count | 14,582 | 14,948 | 2.51% |
| Proportion per 100k | 5.41 | 5.07 | -6.28% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Strange
The Decennial U.S. Census offers insight into the diverse ethnic identity associated with the surname Strange. In 2000, the majority of individuals bearing this surname identified as White, at 83.53%, a figure that dropped slightly to 82.36% in 2010. There were also notable increases in those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic, with a percentage change of 50.00% and 50.35% respectively, although the overall numbers remained relatively small. The percentage of individuals identifying as Black or of two or more races also saw a mild increase, while the proportion of American Indian and Alaskan Natives remained fairly stable.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 83.53% | 82.36% | -1.4% |
| Black | 12.8% | 12.9% | 0.78% |
| Hispanic | 1.41% | 2.12% | 50.35% |
| Two or More Races | 1.4% | 1.57% | 12.14% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.54% | 0.56% | 3.7% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.32% | 0.48% | 50% |
Strange 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 Strange is British & Irish, which comprises 60.4% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (20.4%) and Eastern European (2.9%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, Italian, Nigerian, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 60.4% |
| French & German | 20.4% |
| Eastern European | 2.9% |
| Other | 16.3% |
Possible origins of the surname Strange
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 Strange have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 87.20% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 87.20% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 87.20% |
| Lancashire, United Kingdom | 86.90% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 86.90% |
What Strange 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 Strange is J-L26, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup J-L26 is descended from haplogroup J-M304. Other common haplogroups include R-P311 and I-Z190, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Britt, Montgomery, Otero, Durham, Valencia, Betancourt, Hinojosa, Goble, Walton, Kirchner.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Strange surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins J-M304Your 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 Strange 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.
"Strange" Surname 42.9%
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.
"Strange" Surname 26.2%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Strange" Surname 24.2%
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.
"Strange" Surname 18.0%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Strange?
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 Strange are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition