Cake
An English surname derived from the Old Norse word "kake" meaning a small cake or biscuit.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 480 Americans carry the last name Cake. That puts it at #50,275 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.14 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 714,072 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cake surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
480
1 in 714,072
Census rank
#50,275
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
416
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 416 bearers of the surname Cake in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.14 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 50275th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cake, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cake
The surname "CAKE" is believed to have originated in England in the late 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "cac", which meant a lump or a mass, and was often used to refer to a small round loaf of bread.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "CAKE" appears in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273, where a Robert Cake is listed. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for a baker or someone who made small loaves of bread.
In the 14th century, the surname "CAKE" is found in various records across different counties in England, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a Walter Cake is mentioned, and the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1348, which list a John Cake.
During the 16th century, the surname "CAKE" appears to have spread to other parts of the British Isles, with records showing individuals with this name in Scotland and Ireland. One notable example is Sir John Cake (c. 1545-1612), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Grantham in Lincolnshire.
In the 17th century, the surname "CAKE" is found in various parish records and court documents across England. One noteworthy individual from this time period is William Cake (1635-1692), an English nonconformist minister and author who was arrested and imprisoned for his religious beliefs.
As the surname "CAKE" continued to spread across the British Isles and beyond, it also began to appear in various spellings, such as "Caik", "Caike", and "Cayke". One example of this is John Caik (c. 1650-1718), a Scottish merchant and landowner who lived in Leith, near Edinburgh.
Other notable individuals with the surname "CAKE" throughout history include Thomas Cake (1737-1811), an English clergyman and author who wrote on various theological subjects, and Benjamin Cake (1788-1849), an English architect and surveyor who designed several buildings in London.
Overall, the surname "CAKE" has a long and varied history, with its origins likely stemming from an occupational name for a baker or someone who made small loaves of bread in medieval England. Despite its somewhat unusual spelling, the name has persisted through the centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life across the British Isles and beyond.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cake
Among Census respondents with the surname Cake, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Cake bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Cake surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.5%
- Hispanic or Latino4.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Cake surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #50,275 | #50,275 | 0.0% |
| Count | 416 | 416 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Cake bearers went from 416 to 416 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #50,275 to #50,275.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Cake
FAQ
Cake surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Cake?
The surname Cake holds position #50,275 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 480 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.14 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Cake surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cake, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.