Erroll
Of English origin meaning "wanderer" or "traveler".
Name Census estimates that about 625 living Americans carry the first name Erroll. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Erroll today is around 59 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Erroll births was 1959 (32 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Erroll. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
625
~ 1 in 548,407 Americans
Peak year
1959
32 babies that year
Average age
59
years old
2005 SSA rank
#11,983
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Erroll: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Erroll from the 1910s through to the 2000s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 210 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Erroll by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Erroll during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Errolls live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Louisiana, California, New York recorded the most babies named Erroll, while New York, California, Louisiana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 13 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Erroll
The name Erroll is believed to be of Scottish origin, derived from the Old English word "eorl," meaning "nobleman" or "earl." It is also thought to be a variation of the name "Harold," which has similar roots in Old English and Old Norse.
The earliest recorded use of the name Erroll can be traced back to the 12th century in Scotland, where it was likely used as a title or surname for members of the aristocracy. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Erroll, Earl of Erroll, who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries.
Throughout history, the name Erroll has been associated with several notable figures. One of the most famous was Erroll Flynn (1909-1959), an Australian-born American actor who rose to fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He starred in numerous swashbuckling films, including "Captain Blood" and "The Adventures of Robin Hood."
Another prominent individual with the name Erroll was Erroll Garner (1923-1977), an American jazz pianist and composer known for his unique style and improvisational skills. He is regarded as one of the most influential pianists in the history of jazz.
In the literary world, Erroll Sherson (1915-1959) was a notable New Zealand poet and writer. His works explored themes of identity, belonging, and the natural world, reflecting his experiences as a farmer and his Māori heritage.
Erroll Garner (1944-1977), a British artist and sculptor, gained recognition for his large-scale public artworks, many of which can be found in cities across the United Kingdom.
Finally, Erroll McDonald (1935-2022) was a renowned American jazz drummer and educator. He performed with some of the greatest musicians of his time, including Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, and Dexter Gordon, and influenced generations of drummers through his teaching and mentorship.
While the name Erroll has its roots in Scotland and was initially associated with nobility, it has since gained a broader appeal and been adopted by individuals from various backgrounds and cultures throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields.
People
Erroll + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Erroll as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Erroll: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Erroll?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 625 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Erroll going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 548,407 US residents.
Is Erroll a common name?
We classify Erroll as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 822 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Erroll most popular?
The single biggest year for Erroll was 1959, when 32 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Erroll is about 59 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Erroll a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Erroll in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.