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

Caine, 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 Caine surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Caine in America

Caine is the 7647th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Caine surname appeared 4,343 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 Caine.

We can also compare 2010 data for Caine 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 Caine

The surname CAINE has its origins in England, emerging in the medieval period around the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "caine," which means "cane" or "walking stick." This name was likely given as a descriptive surname to someone who used a cane or walking stick, perhaps due to a disability or advanced age.

The earliest recorded instance of the name CAINE can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, where a person named Roger Caine is mentioned. These rolls were financial records maintained by the Exchequer of the English Crown, indicating that individuals bearing this surname were present in northern England during the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Cayne, Caigne, and Kayne, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. One notable early bearer of the name was John de Caine, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1275. These rolls were administrative records documenting land ownership and taxation.

The CAINE surname is also linked to several place names in England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire and Lincolnshire. For instance, there is a village called Caine in Derbyshire, which may have influenced the surname's development or been influenced by it.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname CAINE have achieved notable recognition. One of the earliest was Sir Thomas Caine (1505-1570), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1553. Another prominent figure was Michael Caine (born 1933), the renowned English actor known for his roles in films such as "The Italian Job" and "The Dark Knight."

Other notable individuals with the CAINE surname include:

1. Sir Thomas Caine (1645-1711), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Newton.
2. John Caine (1773-1858), a British naval officer and explorer who surveyed parts of the Australian coastline.
3. Hall Caine (1853-1931), a British novelist and playwright, best known for his novel "The Bondman."
4. Thomas Henry Caine (1853-1925), a British politician and writer who served as a Member of Parliament for North-West Manchester.
5. Derwent Hall Caine (1862-1946), a British author and politician, the son of Hall Caine.

The surname CAINE has a rich history rooted in medieval England, with its origins possibly stemming from a descriptive nickname related to the use of a walking stick. Over the centuries, the name has been associated with various geographic locations, historical records, and notable individuals who have contributed to various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Caine

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

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

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

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