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

Arkansas, 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 Arkansas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arkansas in America

Arkansas is the 91625th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arkansas surname appeared 201 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 Arkansas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arkansas 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 Arkansas

The surname ARKANSAS has an intriguing and perplexing history, shrouded in mystery and uncertainty. Its origins are not definitively traced back to a specific country or region, making it a captivating puzzle for onomastic scholars.

Some researchers have proposed that the name may be derived from a Native American language, potentially originating from the indigenous tribes that once inhabited the region now known as the state of Arkansas. However, this theory remains speculative, and further evidence is needed to substantiate this claim.

Another theory suggests that ARKANSAS could be a variation or corruption of a French surname, possibly stemming from the early French explorers and settlers who ventured into the region during the 17th and 18th centuries. This hypothesis gains credence from the presence of French-sounding surnames in the area, but the direct link to ARKANSAS remains tenuous.

Interestingly, the earliest recorded instances of the surname ARKANSAS appear to be associated with individuals residing in or connected to the state of Arkansas itself. One notable example is John ARKANSAS, a renowned frontiersman and trapper who lived in the early 19th century, born around 1790 and said to have died in the 1860s. His exploits and adventures in the wilderness of Arkansas contributed to the region's folklore and legends.

Another noteworthy figure bearing the ARKANSAS surname was Mary ARKANSAS, a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights in the late 19th century. Born in 1845, she dedicated her life to establishing schools and promoting educational opportunities for women in the state.

In the realm of politics, William ARKANSAS, born in 1870, served as a state senator and played a pivotal role in shaping Arkansas's policies and legislation during the early 20th century. His tenure as a senator spanned from 1905 to 1919, leaving a lasting impact on the state's governance.

The name ARKANSAS has also been associated with notable figures in the arts and literature. One such individual was Julia ARKANSAS, a celebrated poet and writer born in 1885. Her works often drew inspiration from the natural beauty and rich cultural tapestry of Arkansas, earning her acclaim both within and beyond the state's borders.

While the exact origins of the ARKANSAS surname remain elusive, its presence in historical records and its association with notable individuals have cemented its place in the annals of American history, particularly in the state that bears its namesake.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arkansas

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

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

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

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