2000
#13,372
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,089
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.77
Rare Last name
Dacus
Of Roman origin, indicating a person from the ancient region of Dacia, now primarily Romania and Moldova.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,105 Americans carry the last name Dacus. That puts it at #15,382 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.61 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 162,829 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dacus 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
2.1K
1 in 162,829
Census rank
#15,382
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,836 bearers of the surname Dacus in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.61 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15382nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dacus, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.9%. The next largest groups are Black (11.9%) and Two or More Races (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dacus
The surname Dacus has its origins in France and dates back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "dacier," which means "a tax collector." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely employed as tax collectors or held similar occupations related to fiscal responsibilities.
Dacus is believed to have originated in the northern regions of France, particularly in the areas around Normandy and Brittany. Some of the earliest recorded instances of this name can be found in medieval documents and charters from these regions, often spelled as "Dacier" or "Dassier."
One notable historical reference to the name Dacus is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Dacy" in this document, suggesting that variations of the spelling existed at that time.
Among the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname was Robert Dacus, a Norman nobleman who lived in the 12th century. He is mentioned in several contemporary chronicles and was known for his involvement in the Crusades.
During the 13th century, the Dacus family established a stronghold in the village of Dacy, located in the Somme region of northern France. This place name is likely derived from the family name itself, further solidifying the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.
In the 14th century, a notable figure named Jean Dacus (1320-1388) rose to prominence as a renowned scholar and theologian. He studied at the University of Paris and later became a professor at the prestigious institution, contributing significantly to the advancement of medieval philosophy and theology.
Another prominent individual with the surname Dacus was Jacques Dacus (1460-1522), a French artist and painter who was celebrated for his intricate religious frescoes and altarpieces. His works can be found in various churches and cathedrals across France, showcasing his mastery of the Renaissance art style.
In the 16th century, the Dacus family produced a renowned military leader named Philippe Dacus (1525-1598). He served as a captain in the French army and was instrumental in several campaigns during the French Wars of Religion, earning a reputation for his strategic acumen and bravery on the battlefield.
Throughout the centuries, the Dacus surname has maintained its presence across various regions of France, with variations in spelling such as Dacy, Dasser, and Dacier. While the name has since spread to other parts of the world, its origins can be traced back to the rich historical tapestry of medieval France.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dacus
Among Census respondents with the surname Dacus, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.9%. The next largest groups are Black (11.9%) and Two or More Races (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Dacus 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 Dacus surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.9% · 1,485
- Black or African American11.9% · 219
- Two or more races3.2% · 59
- Hispanic or Latino2.8% · 52
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6% · 11
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5% · 10
Timeline
Historical Census data for Dacus
Dacus 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
#13,955
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,162
+73 bearers (+3.5%)
Per 100,000 0.73
Rank movement Down 583 places
2020
#15,382
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,836
-326 bearers (-15.1%)
Per 100,000 0.61
Rank movement Down 1,427 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #13,372 | 2,089 | 0.77 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #13,955 | 2,162 | 0.73 | +73 bearers (+3.5%) | Down 583 places |
| 2020 | #15,382 | 1,836 | 0.61 | -326 bearers (-15.1%) | Down 1,427 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 Dacus 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 | #13,955 | #15,382 | -10.2% |
| Count | 2,162 | 1,836 | -15.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.73 | 0.61 | -15.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Dacus bearers went from 2,162 to 1,836 (-15.1% change). The surname moved down 1,427 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,955 to #15,382.
FAQ
Dacus surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Dacus?
Name Census estimates that about 2,105 living Americans carry the surname Dacus. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 162,829 residents.
How common is Dacus?
Dacus ranks #15,382 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.61 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,836 people with the surname Dacus. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,105), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.61 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.61 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Dacus.
Has Dacus become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Dacus went from 2,162 recorded bearers to 1,836. That is a decrease of 326 (-15.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #13,955 to #15,382.
What does the Census say about the background of Dacus?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dacus, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.9%. The next largest groups are Black (11.9%) and Two or More Races (3.2%). 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 Dacus in the 2020 Census, accounting for 80.9% (1,485 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Dacus appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (80.9%), Black (11.9%), Two or More Races (3.2%). 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 Dacus (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 Dacus mean?
Of Roman origin, indicating a person from the ancient region of Dacia, now primarily Romania and Moldova. 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 Dacus (0.61 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 Americans have the surname Dacus?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.