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

Acuff, 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 Acuff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Acuff in America

Acuff is the 12593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Acuff surname appeared 2,458 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Acuff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Acuff 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 Acuff

The surname ACUFF is believed to have originated in England, potentially derived from the Old English word "acufe," meaning "acorn." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near an oak tree or a place where acorns were plentiful.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ACUFF surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled "Akuffe." This historical document, compiled during the reign of King Edward I, contains records of landowners and their tenants throughout England.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as "Acuffe," "Accuffe," and "Akuffe," in various records and manuscripts from different parts of England, indicating the name's widespread presence throughout the country.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and property ownership in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the ACUFF surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the formation of the surname, such as "Acornbury" and "Acorn Green."

One of the earliest known individuals with the ACUFF surname was John Acuff, born around 1450 in Somerset, England. He was a prominent landowner and local magistrate during the reign of King Henry VII.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Acuff, born in 1602 in Gloucestershire, England. She was a renowned herbalist and author of the book "The English Herbary," published in 1648, which documented the medicinal properties of various plants native to England.

In the 18th century, the ACUFF surname gained prominence in the American colonies, particularly in Virginia and the Carolinas. One of the earliest recorded individuals was William Acuff, born in 1720 in Virginia, who served as a militia captain during the American Revolutionary War.

The 19th century saw the rise of several notable individuals with the ACUFF surname, including Samuel Acuff, born in 1832 in Tennessee. He was a renowned Baptist minister and founder of the Acuff Bible College, which later became Union University.

Another significant figure was Rachel Acuff, born in 1856 in Georgia. She was a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights, serving as the first female principal of the Georgia Normal and Industrial College (now Georgia College & State University).

Throughout history, the ACUFF surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, soldiers, artists, and scholars, contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural and historical narratives across different regions and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Acuff

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

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

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

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