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

Earle, 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 Earle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Earle in America

Earle is the 4095th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Earle surname appeared 8,672 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Earle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Earle 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 Earle

The surname Earle is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word 'eorl' meaning 'nobleman' or 'warrior'. It first appeared in England during the medieval period, specifically in the regions of Berkshire, Devon, and Somerset.

The name was initially used as a title or rank for those who held a high social status or were prominent leaders in their communities. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and their holdings in England after the Norman Conquest.

Over time, the title 'eorl' evolved into a hereditary surname, and the spelling variations 'Earle', 'Earl', and 'Erle' became more common. These different spellings were often used interchangeably by families and scribes.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Earle throughout history, including Ralph Earle (1606-1678), an English settler and one of the founders of the colony of Rhode Island. Another prominent figure was Jabez Earle (1676-1768), an English merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of churches and schools in his hometown of Charlestown, Massachusetts.

Sir Giles Earle (1567-1626) was an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Dorset. He was also involved in the colonization efforts in Virginia and held various administrative positions in the early English settlements.

In the literary world, John Earle (1601-1665) was an English author and bishop known for his work "Micro-cosmographie, or a Peece of the World Discovered; in Essayes and Characters," which provided insightful observations on contemporary society and personalities.

Thomas Earle (1796-1876) was an English naturalist and writer who made significant contributions to the study of zoology and ornithology. His works include "A Narrative of a Nine Months' Residence in New Zealand" and "The Settlers in Australia," which documented his experiences and observations during his travels.

While the name Earle has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and migration. However, the historical origins and significance of this surname can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era and the nobility and leadership roles associated with the title 'eorl'.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Earle

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

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

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

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