Explore the Family Name Vital

The meaning of Vital

Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian (Veneto), English, and West Indian (mainly Haiti): from a vernacular form of the Latin personal name Vitalis (see Vitale). The English and West Indian surname may derive, in part, as a nickname from the Middle English and French word vital in the sense ‘full of vitality’. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Manuel, Juan, Rafael, Fernando, Jorge, Luis, Ruben, Ana, Armando, Francisco, Guadalupe. French/Haitian Alphonse, Patrice, Pierre, Alain, Altagrace, Anastasie, Andre, Jean Louis, Magalie, Monique, Octave, Rodrigue.

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

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

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Vital has markedly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Vital was ranked 8,294 in popularity and this improved to a ranking of 6,739 by 2010, signifying an 18.75% increase. The count of individuals with the Vital surname also rose from 3,674 to 5,004, a notable growth of 36.2%. Consequently, the proportion of people named Vital per 100,000 individuals also climbed by 25%, moving from 1.36 to 1.7.

20002010Change
Rank#8,294#6,73918.75%
Count3,6745,00436.2%
Proportion per 100k1.361.725%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Vital

The Decennial U.S. Census data further illustrates shifts in the ethnic identity associated with the Vital surname. While the Hispanic representation saw a slight increase of 5.19%, moving from 50.84% in 2000 to 53.48% in 2010, the percentage of the Black community bearing the Vital surname decreased by 4.76%. The Asian/Pacific Islander group showed an upward trend, growing by 20.60%, but the figures for those claiming two or more races and American Indian and Alaskan Native identities fell by 33.62% and 25.00% respectively. The percentage of White individuals carrying the Vital surname also slightly declined by 6.31%.

20002010Change
Hispanic50.84%53.48%5.19%
Black27.95%26.62%-4.76%
White16%14.99%-6.31%
Asian/Pacific Islander2.67%3.22%20.6%
Two or More Races2.29%1.52%-33.62%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0.24%0.18%-25%