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

Arthur, 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 Arthur surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arthur in America

Arthur is the 1247th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arthur surname appeared 28,102 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 10 people would have the surname Arthur.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arthur 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 Arthur

The surname Arthur has its origins in the ancient Celtic British culture, dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries AD. It is believed to have derived from the Roman name "Artorius" or the Celtic words "artos" meaning bear and "rigos" meaning king or warrior. The name was associated with the legendary King Arthur, who was said to have ruled over Britain during the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Arthur can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Arturus," "Arthurus," and "Artur."

In the 12th century, the name gained popularity due to the widespread circulation of the Arthurian legends, which were compiled and romanticized by authors like Geoffrey of Monmouth and Chrétien de Troyes. These stories featured the exploits of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, solidifying the name's association with chivalry and heroism.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Arthur was particularly prevalent in Cornwall and Wales, regions with strong Celtic cultural ties. Notable individuals with the surname include Sir Thomas Arthur (1508-1586), a Welsh politician and landowner, and Sir Daniel Arthur (1609-1676), a Welsh soldier and Member of Parliament.

In the 16th century, the Arthur surname appeared in various place names and locations across England, such as Arthurstown in Northamptonshire and Arthursleigh in Warwickshire, further indicating its widespread adoption.

Other notable historical figures with the surname Arthur include:

1. Chester A. Arthur (1829-1886), the 21st President of the United States.
2. Sir George Arthur (1784-1854), a British military officer and colonial administrator who served as Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada (present-day Ontario).
3. Julia Arthur (1869-1950), an American stage actress renowned for her performances in Shakespearean plays.
4. Robert Arthur (1909-1969), an American writer and editor best known for his work on the Alfred Hitchcock Presents anthology series.
5. John Arthur (1880-1952), a British actor and film director who worked extensively in the silent film era.

The surname Arthur has endured through the centuries, carrying with it a rich history and associations with legendary figures, literary works, and cultural significance in various regions of the British Isles and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arthur

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

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

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

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