Explore the Family Name Torch

The meaning of Torch

English: nickname from Middle English torch(e) ‘torch; large wax or tallow candle’ (Old French torce), perhaps denoting someone who made torches or carried a torch, for example in a procession. In England this surname is in part of French Huguenot origin, from Torche, from French torche ‘torch’.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Torch in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname 'Torch' slightly decreased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the name ranked 78,549 in terms of overall prevalence, but by 2010, it had dropped to 84,463, indicating a decrease of 7.53%. The total count of individuals with this surname also saw a slight decline from 226 in 2000 to 222 in 2010, marking a reduction ratio of 1.77%. Despite these changes, the proportion of the surname per 100,000 people remained stable at 0.08.

	2000	2010	Change
Rank	#78,549	#84,463	-7.53%
Count	226	222	-1.77%
Proportion per 100k	0.08	0.08	0%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Torch

The Census data also provides insight into the ethnic identity associated with the surname 'Torch'. As of 2000, the majority of individuals with this surname, about 96.46%, identified as White. This percentage fell to 92.79% by 2010. Over the same period, there was an emergence of those identifying as Hispanic, accounting for 4.50% of the total by 2010. Conversely, representation by those identifying as Black appeared to disappear, falling from 2.65% in 2000 to zero in 2010. There were no notable changes within Asian/Pacific Islander, Two or more races, and American Indian and Alaskan Native groups over this decade.

	2000	2010	Change
White	96.46%	92.79%	-3.8%
Hispanic	0%	4.5%	0%
Asian/Pacific Islander	0%	0%	0%
Two or More Races	0%	0%	0%
Black	2.65%	0%	0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native	0%	0%	0%