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

Council, 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 Council surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Council in America

Council is the 5037th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Council surname appeared 6,964 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Council.

We can also compare 2010 data for Council 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 Council

The surname Council is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "conseil," meaning "council" or "advice." This name emerged in the 12th century and was initially used as an occupational surname for those who served on a council or provided counsel.

In the early records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Counseil, Cunseil, and Counsayl, reflecting the evolution of the English language over time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1195, where a William Cunseill is mentioned.

The name Council can be traced back to various regions in England, particularly the counties of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, and Yorkshire, where it was prevalent among the gentry and landowners. In the Domesday Book of 1086, the name is not explicitly mentioned, but there are references to individuals with similar occupational titles, such as "consilarius" or "consiliarius," indicating their roles as advisors or counselors.

Notable individuals with the surname Council include:

1. John Council (c. 1500-1565), an English Protestant reformer and clergyman who played a significant role in the English Reformation.
2. William Council (c. 1640-1708), a British colonial administrator who served as the Deputy Governor of Virginia from 1704 to 1708.
3. Edward Council (1662-1734), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Westbury from 1708 to 1715.
4. Mary Council (1675-1753), an English philanthropist and benefactor who established several charitable institutions in London.
5. Sir Henry Council (1789-1867), a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the Arctic regions.

The name Council is also associated with various place names in England, such as Council House in Warwickshire, which was once a meeting place for local councils, and Council Farm in Northamptonshire, likely named after a family that owned or worked the land.

While the surname Council has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora, adapting to different linguistic and cultural contexts over time. However, its etymology remains firmly rooted in the English language and the historical role of councils and advisors in medieval society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Council

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

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

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

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