Charles
A French occupational surname referring to a man, derived from the Germanic name Karl, meaning "free man."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 71,122 Americans carry the last name Charles. That puts it at #548 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 20.75 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 4,819 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Charles 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
71K
1 in 4,819
Census rank
#548
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
20.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
61K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 61,211 bearers of the surname Charles in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 20.75 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 548th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Charles, the largest self-reported group is Black at 53.0%. The next largest groups are White (33.7%) and Hispanic (7.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Charles
The surname Charles originates from the French language and can be traced back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Germanic name Karl, which means "free man" or "husband." The name Karl was later Latinized as Carolus, eventually becoming Charles in French.
Charles was a popular name among the Frankish and French nobility, particularly due to the fame of Charlemagne (742-814), the King of the Franks and the first ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. The widespread use of the name Charles among the French aristocracy and royalty contributed significantly to its widespread adoption as a surname.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Charles can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book lists individuals with the surname Charles residing in various parts of England, indicating the name's early presence in the region.
During the Middle Ages, the surname Charles was often associated with place names, such as Charles de Blois (1319-1364), a French nobleman and claimant to the Duchy of Brittany. In some cases, the surname may have originated from a place name that incorporated the name Charles, such as Charleswood or Charlemont.
Notable historical figures with the surname Charles include:
1. Jacques Alexandre César Charles (1746-1823), a French inventor and scientist best known for his work on gases, including the discovery of Charles' Law.
2. Elizabeth Charles (c. 1828-1896), an English educator and pioneering advocate for women's education, who founded several schools for girls in the 19th century.
3. Pierre Charles L'Enfant (1754-1825), a French-American architect and engineer who designed the basic plan for the city of Washington, D.C.
4. Robert Charles (1886-1917), an American World War I fighter pilot and the first pilot from the United States to be awarded the French Croix de Guerre medal.
5. Toney Charles (1953-2022), an American blues and soul singer and songwriter, known for his distinctive voice and contributions to the Memphis music scene.
The surname Charles has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by notable individuals across various fields, from science and engineering to education and the arts.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Charles
Among Census respondents with the surname Charles, the largest self-reported group is Black at 53.0%. The next largest groups are White (33.7%) and Hispanic (7.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Charles 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 Charles surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American53.0%
- White33.7%
- Hispanic or Latino7.9%
- Two or more races2.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Charles 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 | #548 | #548 | 0.0% |
| Count | 61,211 | 61,211 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 20.75 | 20.75 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Charles bearers went from 61,211 to 61,211 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #548 to #548.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Charles
FAQ
Charles surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Charles?
The surname Charles holds position #548 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 71,122 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 20.75 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Charles surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Charles, the largest self-reported group is Black at 53.0%. The next largest groups are White (33.7%) and Hispanic (7.9%). 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.