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

Case, 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 Case surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Case in America

Case is the 885th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Case surname appeared 39,319 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 13 people would have the surname Case.

We can also compare 2010 data for Case 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 Case

The surname Case is an English occupational name derived from the Old French word 'cas', meaning a small house or cottage. It likely originated in the medieval period, referring to individuals who lived in a small dwelling or hamlet.

The earliest known record of the surname Case dates back to the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where it is listed as 'Atte Case'. This early spelling suggests a connection to a specific place or residence. Over time, the name evolved to its modern form, Case.

In the 13th century, the surname Case appeared in various records across England, particularly in Essex, Hertfordshire, and Cambridgeshire. It is believed that these areas were among the first places where the name became established.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population in England compiled in 1086, does not contain the surname Case. However, it does mention several place names with similar roots, such as Caistor in Lincolnshire, which may have influenced the development of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Case was John Case, born around 1350 in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. He was a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the rector of several parishes in the late 14th century.

Another notable figure was Sir John Case (1563-1600), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Chief Justice of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 16th century, the surname Case gained prominence in the county of Kent, where several families adopted it. One such individual was Thomas Case (1598-1682), an English Puritan minister and theologian known for his involvement in the Westminster Assembly.

During the 17th century, the Case surname spread to the American colonies, with some of the earliest recorded instances being John Case (1622-1691), who settled in Stamford, Connecticut, and Joseph Case (1653-1725), a prominent merchant and landowner in Rhode Island.

In the 18th century, Sir John Case (1732-1808) was a notable British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

Throughout history, the surname Case has been associated with various occupations, including scholars, lawyers, clergymen, merchants, and military personnel, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of individuals bearing this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Case

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

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

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

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