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

Ables, 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 Ables surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ables in America

Ables is the 6733rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ables surname appeared 5,010 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Ables.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ables to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ables

The surname Ables is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "aebel," meaning "able" or "capable." The name first emerged in the 12th century in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in eastern England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ables can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk from 1195, where it appears as "Thomas Ables." This suggests that the name was initially an occupational surname given to individuals who were considered skilled or capable in a particular trade or profession.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name Ables began to spread beyond Norfolk and Suffolk, appearing in various historical records across England. In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, there is a reference to a "Willelmus Ables," while the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327 mention a "Johanna Ables."

The Ables surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Ables Green in Staffordshire and Ables Field in Derbyshire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Ables surname who lived or owned land in those areas.

Notable individuals with the surname Ables throughout history include:

1. Sir Richard Ables (1532-1603), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Ludlow in 1597.
2. John Ables (1624-1683), an English Puritan minister and writer who authored several religious works, including "A Manual for Ministers."
3. Mary Ables (1678-1742), an English poet and playwright known for her works on religious themes and moral subjects.
4. William Ables (1718-1789), a British military officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.
5. Edward Ables (1802-1878), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Marylebone Presbyterian Church.

Over time, variations of the Ables surname emerged, such as Abeles, Abell, and Ablitt, reflecting local dialect and spelling preferences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained unchanged, rooted in the Old English concept of capability and skill.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ables

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

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 Ables 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ables has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Ables was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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