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

Alcorn, 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 Alcorn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alcorn in America

Alcorn is the 4498th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alcorn surname appeared 7,884 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Alcorn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alcorn 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 Alcorn

The surname Alcorn originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is a locational name derived from the place name Allcorn, which is believed to come from the Scots Gaelic words "ail" meaning "rock" and "corn" meaning "horn" or "promontory." This suggests that the name likely referred to a rocky headland or promontory.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in the form "de Aluecorne" in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This early spelling variation highlights the name's Scottish roots.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including "Aulcorne" and "Alecorne," in records from the counties of Dumfriesshire and Ayrshire, where the name is believed to have originated. These records suggest that the Alcorn family held lands in these areas during this time period.

One notable bearer of the Alcorn surname was John Alcorn, a Scottish clergyman who lived in the 16th century. He served as the minister of the parish of Prestonpans in East Lothian and was known for his religious writings and teachings.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in the form "Alquhorn" in the Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, a record of land ownership in Scotland. This document mentions an individual named Robert Alquhorn, who held lands in the county of Ayrshire.

Another prominent figure with the Alcorn surname was Sir John Alcorn, a Scottish soldier who lived in the 18th century. He served in the British Army and rose to the rank of lieutenant-general, participating in several notable battles during the Seven Years' War.

During the 19th century, the Alcorn family continued to have a presence in Scotland, with individuals bearing the name appearing in various records and documents. One such individual was James Alcorn, a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1838 to 1916. He made significant contributions to the town of Paisley, where he established a public park and funded the construction of several buildings.

The name Alcorn has also been found in other parts of the United Kingdom, including England and Ireland, likely due to migration and the spread of Scottish families over time. However, its origins can be traced back to the rocky landscapes of Scotland, where it first emerged as a locational surname centuries ago.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alcorn

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

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

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

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