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

Active, 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 Active surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Active in America

Active is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Active surname appeared 111 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 Active.

The history of the last name Active

The surname "Active" is of English origin and dates back to the late 16th century. It is derived from the Old English word "actif," which means "energetic" or "lively." The name was initially used as a descriptive name for someone who was particularly active or energetic in their profession or daily life.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Active" can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, England, where a William Active was christened in 1592. Another early record is from the Essex County Archives, which mentions a John Active in a land deed dated 1611.

In the 17th century, the name "Active" appeared in several historical documents, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a Thomas Active was mentioned in 1638. The name was also found in the Hearth Tax records of Gloucestershire in 1672, listing a family named Active as residents of the town of Cirencester.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname "Active" was Sir Robert Active (1620-1682), a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He was known for his extensive trade ventures with the East Indies and his philanthropic contributions to the city.

In the 18th century, the name "Active" gained prominence in the literary world with the poet and playwright John Active (1738-1807). Born in Bristol, he is best known for his satirical works that criticized the social and political issues of his time.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Active (1762-1848), a pioneering educator from Oxfordshire. She founded one of the first schools for girls in England and was a vocal advocate for women's education at a time when it was still largely denied.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Active (1823-1901), a renowned architect from Yorkshire. He designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum.

In more recent history, one of the most famous individuals with the surname "Active" was Sir Henry Active (1902-1986), a British diplomat and statesman. He served as the Ambassador to the United States from 1953 to 1960 and played a crucial role in strengthening the transatlantic alliance during the Cold War era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Active

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

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

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

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