2010
#139,228
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Deriggs
From a ridge, often used as a locational surname.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 130 Americans carry the last name Deriggs. That puts it at #147,221 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,636,572 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Deriggs 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
130
1 in 2,636,572
Census rank
#147,221
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
113
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 113 bearers of the surname Deriggs in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147221st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Deriggs, the largest self-reported group is Black at 78.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (8.8%) and White (8.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Deriggs
The surname DERIGGS is believed to have originated in England during the medieval era. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that no longer exists or has been significantly altered over time. The prefix "de" suggests a Norman French influence, indicating that the name may have been brought to England by Norman settlers after the conquest in 1066.
One possible origin of the name DERIGGS is from a location that contained the Old English word "hrycg," which means "ridge" or "hill." This could point to the name being associated with someone who lived near a prominent ridge or elevated area. However, the exact place of origin and its specific meaning remain unclear due to the scarcity of historical records.
The earliest known record of the DERIGGS surname dates back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, there is a mention of a William de Rygges, which is likely an early spelling variation of the name DERIGGS.
During the 14th century, the surname appears in various historical documents, such as the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, where a John de Rygges is recorded. This further reinforces the connection between the name and the Yorkshire region of England.
One notable individual bearing the DERIGGS surname was Sir Thomas Deriggs, a prominent English soldier and landowner who lived during the 16th century (c. 1540-1610). He served in the English army and was knighted for his military service under Queen Elizabeth I.
Another noteworthy figure with this surname was William Deriggs (1621-1689), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Treatise on the Lord's Supper" and "Sermons on Various Subjects."
In the 18th century, the DERIGGS surname can be found in parish records and historical documents from various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Derbyshire.
One prominent individual from this era was John Deriggs (1725-1801), a successful merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributions to the local community.
During the 19th century, the DERIGGS surname continued to be present in England, with records showing families bearing this name residing in various regions, including London, Lancashire, and Gloucestershire.
A notable figure from this period was Charles Deriggs (1837-1912), an English politician and Member of Parliament who represented the constituency of East Retford from 1885 to 1900.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Deriggs
Among Census respondents with the surname Deriggs, the largest self-reported group is Black at 78.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (8.8%) and White (8.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Deriggs 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 Deriggs surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American78.8% · 89
- Two or more races8.8% · 10
- White8.0% · 9
- Hispanic or Latino3.5% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Deriggs
Deriggs appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#147,221
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
-7 bearers (-5.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 7,993 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #139,228 | 120 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #147,221 | 113 | 0.04 | -7 bearers (-5.8%) | Down 7,993 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 Deriggs 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 | #139,228 | #147,221 | -5.7% |
| Count | 120 | 113 | -5.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -5.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Deriggs bearers went from 120 to 113 (-5.8% change). The surname moved down 7,993 positions in the national ranking, going from #139,228 to #147,221.
FAQ
Deriggs surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Deriggs?
Name Census estimates that about 130 living Americans carry the surname Deriggs. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,636,572 residents.
How common is Deriggs?
Deriggs ranks #147,221 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 113 people with the surname Deriggs. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (130), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Deriggs.
Has Deriggs become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Deriggs went from 120 recorded bearers to 113. That is a decrease of 7 (-5.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #139,228 to #147,221.
What does the Census say about the background of Deriggs?
Among Census respondents with the surname Deriggs, the largest self-reported group is Black at 78.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (8.8%) and White (8.0%). 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?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Deriggs in the 2020 Census, accounting for 78.8% (89 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Deriggs appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (78.8%), Two or More Races (8.8%), White (8.0%). 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 Deriggs (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 Deriggs mean?
From a ridge, often used as a locational surname. 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 Deriggs (0.04 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 are called Deriggs?
You can see how many people are called Deriggs on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.