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

Duncan, 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 Duncan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Duncan in America

Duncan is the 212th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Duncan surname appeared 135,187 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 46 people would have the surname Duncan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Duncan 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 Duncan

The surname Duncan is of Scottish origin, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is a territorial name derived from the Gaelic word "dun," meaning a hill or a fortified place, and "cain," meaning fair or bright. The name likely originated in the region of Angus, Scotland, where the lands of Duncan were located.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Duncan name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls rendered to Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landholders. These rolls include the names of several individuals bearing the surname Duncan, indicating its widespread use in Scotland during that period.

The Duncan name gained prominence in Scottish history with the rise of the ancient House of Duncan, a noble family that held significant power and influence in the region of Angus. Notable members of this family include Duncan I, Earl of Angus (c. 1240-1294), a prominent Scottish nobleman and military leader, and Duncan II, Earl of Angus (c. 1270-1332), who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Another notable figure bearing the Duncan surname was Adam Duncan (1731-1804), a Scottish naval hero who achieved fame during the Napoleonic Wars. He is best known for his decisive victory over the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797, for which he was awarded the title of Viscount Duncan of Camperdown.

Andrew Duncan (1744-1828) was a renowned Scottish physician, professor, and writer. He served as the president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and was known for his contributions to the study of medical jurisprudence and public health.

In the realm of literature, Sarah Jennings Duncan (1874-1959) was a Canadian author and educator whose works focused on the lives of Scottish immigrants in Canada. Her novel, "The Imperialist," published in 1904, is considered a significant work in Canadian literature.

The Duncan surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Scotland, such as Dundee, which is derived from the Gaelic "Dun Dé," meaning "the fort on the hill." Other examples include Duncansby Head, a headland in Caithness, and Duncansbay, a village in the same region.

Overall, the surname Duncan has a rich history rooted in the Scottish landscape and culture, with notable bearers who have left their mark in various fields, including nobility, military, medicine, and literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Duncan

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

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

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

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