2000
#65,668
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 282
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.10
Very Rare Last name
Counselman
An occupational surname referring to a counselor or adviser.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 326 Americans carry the last name Counselman. That puts it at #73,555 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,051,394 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Counselman surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
326
1 in 1,051,394
Census rank
#73,555
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
284
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 284 bearers of the surname Counselman in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 73555th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Counselman, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Hispanic (0.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Counselman
The surname COUNSELMAN has its origins in the British Isles, specifically England, during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "counsel" and "man," referring to an individual who provided counsel or advice, possibly serving as a legal advisor or representative.
One of the earliest records of the surname COUNSELMAN can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Consiliarius" in this historical document, indicating its existence during the Norman era.
In the 13th century, the surname COUNSELMAN began to appear in various forms, such as "Counselman," "Counsilman," and "Counsillman," reflecting the evolution of spelling conventions over time. These variations often corresponded to the region or locality where the bearers of the name resided.
One notable individual bearing the COUNSELMAN surname was Sir John Counselman, a prominent lawyer and legal advisor to King Henry VIII in the early 16th century (c. 1480-1538). His expertise in law and his counsel to the monarch earned him recognition and influence during that turbulent period of English history.
Another figure of historical significance was Elizabeth Counselman (1610-1672), a Puritan settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was among the early English immigrants who sought religious freedom and established new communities in the New World.
In the 18th century, the COUNSELMAN surname gained prominence in the literary world with the birth of Robert Counselman (1725-1797), an English poet and essayist whose works explored themes of nature, philosophy, and the human condition.
The 19th century saw the emergence of William Counselman (1819-1892), an influential industrialist and entrepreneur who played a crucial role in the development of the railroad industry in the United States. His contributions to transportation infrastructure and commerce left a lasting impact on the nation's economic growth.
Lastly, one cannot overlook the legacy of Margaret Counselman (1876-1961), a pioneering artist and sculptor who challenged traditional artistic norms and paved the way for modern art movements in the early 20th century. Her bold and innovative works garnered critical acclaim and continue to inspire artists to this day.
These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have borne the COUNSELMAN surname throughout history, contributing to various fields and leaving an indelible mark on the annals of human endeavor.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Counselman
Among Census respondents with the surname Counselman, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Hispanic (0.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Counselman bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Counselman surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.1% · 273
- Two or more races1.8% · 5
- Hispanic or Latino0.7% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7% · 2
- Black or African American0.4% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Counselman
Counselman appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#66,754
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 296
+14 bearers (+5.0%)
Per 100,000 0.10
Rank movement Down 1,086 places
2020
#73,555
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 284
-12 bearers (-4.1%)
Per 100,000 0.10
Rank movement Down 6,801 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #65,668 | 282 | 0.10 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #66,754 | 296 | 0.10 | +14 bearers (+5.0%) | Down 1,086 places |
| 2020 | #73,555 | 284 | 0.10 | -12 bearers (-4.1%) | Down 6,801 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Counselman surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #66,754 | #73,555 | -10.2% |
| Count | 296 | 284 | -4.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.10 | 0.10 | -5.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Counselman bearers went from 296 to 284 (-4.1% change). The surname moved down 6,801 positions in the national ranking, going from #66,754 to #73,555.
FAQ
Counselman surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Counselman?
Name Census estimates that about 326 living Americans carry the surname Counselman. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,051,394 residents.
How common is Counselman?
Counselman ranks #73,555 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 284 people with the surname Counselman. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (326), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.1 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.10 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Counselman.
Has Counselman become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Counselman went from 296 recorded bearers to 284. That is a decrease of 12 (-4.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #66,754 to #73,555.
What does the Census say about the background of Counselman?
Among Census respondents with the surname Counselman, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Hispanic (0.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Counselman in the 2020 Census, accounting for 96.1% (273 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Counselman appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (96.1%), Two or More Races (1.8%), Hispanic (0.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Counselman (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Counselman mean?
An occupational surname referring to a counselor or adviser. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Counselman (0.10 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Counselman?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans have the surname Counselman on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.