Find out how popular the last name Abigail is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Abigail.

Abigail, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Abigail surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Abigail in America

Abigail is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Abigail surname appeared 122 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Abigail.

The history of the last name Abigail

The surname "ABIGAIL" is not a traditional surname, but rather a given name that has been used as a surname in some instances. Its origin can be traced back to the Hebrew language, where it is derived from the words "Avi" meaning "father" and "Gil" meaning "joy" or "rejoice." The name is believed to have originated in ancient Israel, with its earliest known references found in the biblical book of Samuel.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "ABIGAIL" appears in the Old Testament, where it is mentioned as the name of the wife of Nabal, a wealthy man from Carmel. This biblical reference dates back to around the 11th century BC. The name gained popularity among Jewish communities and later spread to other cultures and regions.

During the Middle Ages, the name "ABIGAIL" appeared in various European records and manuscripts, particularly in England and France. Historical records from this period often include variations of the spelling, such as "Abygale" or "Abigale." However, its usage as a surname was relatively rare during this time.

One notable historical figure with the surname "ABIGAIL" was Abigail Adams (1744-1818), the wife of the second President of the United States, John Adams. She was a prominent figure during the American Revolution and is known for her influential letters, which provided valuable insights into the era.

Another individual with the surname "ABIGAIL" was Abigail Field (1588-1663), an early settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was born in England and immigrated to America in the 17th century, becoming one of the first European women to settle in the area now known as Saugus, Massachusetts.

In the literary realm, Abigail Rounce (1670-1740) was an English writer and poet who published several works in the early 18th century, including "The Plea of the Muses for the Admission of the Female Sex to the Liberties of Art and Science."

The name "ABIGAIL" can also be found in place names, such as Abigail's Bridge, a historic covered bridge located in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, constructed in the early 19th century.

While the name "ABIGAIL" has been used as a surname in isolated cases throughout history, it is primarily recognized as a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its usage as a surname remains relatively uncommon compared to its popularity as a first name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Abigail

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Abigail.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Abigail was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Abigail was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Abigail, please contact us.

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