Explore the Family Name Tall
The meaning of Tall
1. English: nickname for a respectable or decent person, or else a good-looking one, both these senses belonging to Middle English tall (Old English getæl ‘swift, prompt’). The modern sense ‘of high stature’ did not develop until the end of the 16th century; the usual Middle English equivalents were Long and High. See Talman. 2. English (Devon): habitational name from Talle in Payhembury (Devon), which is recorded as Tale in 1236. The place takes its name from the river Tale, perhaps named with Old English (ge)tæl ‘quick, swift’. 3. West African (mainly Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Mali; also Guinea): Tukulor name, apparently derived from Arabic ṭālib ‘seeker (of knowledge)’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Tall in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname "Tall" has seen a significant increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 16,988th most common surname, but by 2010 it had risen to the 15,289th position, indicating a change of approximately 10%. Additionally, the number of individuals carrying this surname increased by 24.51%, from 1,542 people in 2000 to 1,920 in 2010. This growth is also reflected in the proportion of people with the surname per 100,000, which grew from 0.57 to 0.65, a jump of around 14.04%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,988 | #15,289 | 10% |
| Count | 1,542 | 1,920 | 24.51% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.57 | 0.65 | 14.04% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Tall
The ethnic identity associated with the surname "Tall" also underwent changes between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census. The percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander more than doubled, rising from 0.91% to 2.50%. Those identifying as belonging to two or more races saw an increase of about 43.75%, while the proportion of White individuals decreased by approximately 21.36%. Hispanic representation also rose from 2.01% to 3.13%, a change of roughly 55.72%. Similarly, those identifying as Black increased by 23.27%, and the American Indian and Alaskan Native category observed a rise of nearly 34.86%. However, due to privacy concerns, certain data was suppressed (S) to prevent identification of specific individuals.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 59.27% | 46.61% | -21.36% |
| Black | 29.83% | 36.77% | 23.27% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 5.25% | 7.08% | 34.86% |
| Two or More Races | 2.72% | 3.91% | 43.75% |
| Hispanic | 2.01% | 3.13% | 55.72% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.91% | 2.5% | 174.73% |