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

Cass, 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 Cass surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cass in America

Cass is the 4679th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cass surname appeared 7,581 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Cass.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cass 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 Cass

The surname Cass has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "casse," which means "empty" or "hollow." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname for a thin or slender person.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cass appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1176, where it is spelled "Casse." This indicates that the name was present in England by the late 12th century.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there is a record of a place called "Cassa" in Hertfordshire, which may have contributed to the development of the surname Cass. Additionally, the name is similar to the Old English word "casce," meaning "basket" or "container."

The surname Cass has been found in various historical records throughout the centuries. One notable example is Sir John Cass (1661-1718), a British merchant and philanthropist who founded several schools and charities in London. Another prominent figure was Lewis Cass (1782-1866), an American military officer, politician, and diplomat who served as the Secretary of War under President Andrew Jackson.

Other historical individuals with the surname Cass include:

1. Sir John Cass (1550-1615), an English merchant and Member of Parliament.
2. Jonathan Cass (1670-1749), an English Quaker minister and writer.
3. Elizabeth Cass (1778-1853), an American pioneer and the founder of Cass County, Michigan.
4. Lewis Cass, Jr. (1782-1866), an American politician and son of Lewis Cass.
5. George Cass (1918-1992), an American actor and playwright.

The surname Cass has been present in various regions of England, including Lincolnshire, Hertfordshire, and London. Over time, it has spread to other parts of the world, particularly through English migration and colonization.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cass

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

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

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

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