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

Ector, 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 Ector surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ector in America

Ector is the 23576th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ector surname appeared 1,077 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ector.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ector 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 Ector

The surname Ector has its origins in France, specifically in the northern regions near the English Channel. It emerged during the Middle Ages, likely in the 11th or 12th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "hector," which in turn comes from the Greek name "Hektor," the famous Trojan hero from Homer's Iliad.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ector appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Hector" in this document, suggesting its Norman French roots.

In medieval times, the name Ector was often associated with nobility and chivalry, perhaps influenced by the heroic character of Hector from Greek mythology. Several prominent individuals bore this surname during this period, including Sir Ector de Maris, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Hector, Hectour, and Ector. One notable bearer of this surname was Sir Ector of Brittany, a 14th-century knight who served as a mentor and tutor to the legendary King Arthur in Arthurian legends.

In the 15th century, the Ector surname appeared in various records and documents in England and Scotland. One example is John Ector, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the late 1400s and was a prominent figure in the court of King James IV.

During the Renaissance period, the name Ector gained further prominence. Jacques Ector, a French poet and playwright born in 1553, was a well-known figure in literary circles of his time.

As the centuries passed, the Ector surname continued to be carried by notable individuals across different fields. One such person was Sir Thomas Ector, an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament in the 17th century.

In more recent history, the name Ector has been associated with individuals like Robert Ector, a 19th-century American politician who served as the 12th Governor of Florida, and Robert Ector, a British actor and playwright active in the early 20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ector

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

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

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

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