2000
#2,396
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 13,855
First available Census row
Per 100,000 5.14
Uncommon Last name
Early
Derived from the Old English word "eorl" meaning a nobleman, prince, or leader, or denoting someone who was brave or courageous.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 15,270 Americans carry the last name Early. That puts it at #2,643 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.46 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 22,446 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Early 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Early with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
15K
1 in 22,446
Census rank
#2,643
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
13K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 13,316 bearers of the surname Early in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.46 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2643rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Early, the largest self-reported group is White at 70.5%. The next largest groups are Black (20.9%) and Two or More Races (4.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Early
The surname Early has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "ærlic," which means "early" or "timely." This name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was known for being punctual or arriving early.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Early surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Erliche." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England and serves as a valuable historical record.
In the 13th century, variations of the name started to appear in different parts of England, such as "Erli" in Oxfordshire and "Erly" in Gloucestershire. These regional spellings reflect the local dialects and pronunciations of the time.
One of the earliest known bearers of the Early surname was John Early, who was born in Wiltshire, England, around 1350. He was a prominent landowner and his family's coat of arms can still be seen in the Church of St. Mary in the village of Ludgershall.
During the 16th century, the Early family established themselves in the county of Berkshire, where they owned a significant amount of land and property. Thomas Early (1537-1602), a member of this family, was a successful merchant and served as a magistrate in the town of Reading.
Another notable figure was Sir Samuel Early (1642-1719), a military officer who fought in the Nine Years' War against France. He was knighted for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield and later became a member of the English Parliament.
In the 18th century, the Early family expanded their influence to Ireland, where they settled in County Cork. One of the most prominent members of this branch was Richard Early (1755-1832), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist who was instrumental in establishing several schools and hospitals in the region.
As the Early surname spread across the British Isles, it also found its way to other parts of the world through migration and colonization. For example, John Early (1786-1858), a farmer from Yorkshire, England, emigrated to the United States in the early 19th century and settled in Ohio, where he became a respected member of the local community.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Early
Among Census respondents with the surname Early, the largest self-reported group is White at 70.5%. The next largest groups are Black (20.9%) and Two or More Races (4.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Early 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 Early surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White70.5% · 9,392
- Black or African American20.9% · 2,787
- Two or more races4.6% · 609
- Hispanic or Latino2.7% · 362
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7% · 87
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 79
Timeline
Historical Census data for Early
Early 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
#2,578
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 14,014
+159 bearers (+1.1%)
Per 100,000 4.75
Rank movement Down 182 places
2020
#2,643
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 13,316
-698 bearers (-5.0%)
Per 100,000 4.46
Rank movement Down 65 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #2,396 | 13,855 | 5.14 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #2,578 | 14,014 | 4.75 | +159 bearers (+1.1%) | Down 182 places |
| 2020 | #2,643 | 13,316 | 4.46 | -698 bearers (-5.0%) | Down 65 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 Early 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 | #2,578 | #2,643 | -2.5% |
| Count | 14,014 | 13,316 | -5.0% |
| Per 100K | 4.75 | 4.46 | -6.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Early bearers went from 14,014 to 13,316 (-5.0% change). The surname moved down 65 positions in the national ranking, going from #2,578 to #2,643.
FAQ
Early surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Early?
Name Census estimates that about 15,270 living Americans carry the surname Early. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 22,446 residents.
How common is Early?
Early ranks #2,643 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 4.46 per 100,000 residents, which is about 4 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 13,316 people with the surname Early. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (15,270), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 4.46 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 4.46 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 4 of them to have the surname Early.
Has Early become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Early went from 14,014 recorded bearers to 13,316. That is a decrease of 698 (-5.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #2,578 to #2,643.
What does the Census say about the background of Early?
Among Census respondents with the surname Early, the largest self-reported group is White at 70.5%. The next largest groups are Black (20.9%) and Two or More Races (4.6%). 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 Early in the 2020 Census, accounting for 70.5% (9,392 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Early appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (70.5%), Black (20.9%), Two or More Races (4.6%). 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 Early (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 Early mean?
Derived from the Old English word "eorl" meaning a nobleman, prince, or leader, or denoting someone who was brave or courageous. 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 Early (4.46 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 Early?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the surname Early on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.