2000
#134,037
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Eggar
An archaic habitational surname derived from the village of Eggar in Gloucestershire.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 130 Americans carry the last name Eggar. 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 Eggar 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 Eggar with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
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 Eggar 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 Eggar, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.4%) and Hispanic (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Eggar
The surname Eggar has its origins in England, dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "eggar," which means "ploughman" or "farmer." The name was likely first adopted by individuals who worked as farmers or were involved in agricultural activities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eggar can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical document mentions several individuals with the surname Eggar, indicating that the name was already established in various parts of England during that time.
During the Middle Ages, the name Eggar was prevalent in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, and Devon. Some variations of the spelling included Egar, Egger, and Eggar, reflecting the regional dialects and phonetic variations common in those times.
One notable individual bearing the surname Eggar was John Eggar, a wealthy merchant who lived in Taunton, Somerset, in the late 15th century. Records show that he was involved in the wool trade and owned significant properties in the area.
Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Eggar, a Member of Parliament for Somerset in the early 17th century. He played an active role in local politics and was known for his advocacy of religious reforms during the tumultuous period of the English Civil War.
In the 18th century, the Eggar family had a strong presence in the village of Chard, Somerset. One of the most notable members was William Eggar (1706-1782), a successful farmer and landowner who left a lasting impact on the local community through his philanthropic efforts.
The surname Eggar was also found in other parts of England, such as Wiltshire and Hampshire. In the 19th century, Thomas Eggar (1798-1869), a prominent lawyer and judge, was born in Hampshire and later became a respected figure in the legal profession.
Throughout history, the surname Eggar has been associated with various occupations, including farming, trade, law, and public service. While not a widely distributed name, it has maintained a presence in various regions of England over the centuries, contributing to the rich tapestry of British surnames.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Eggar
Among Census respondents with the surname Eggar, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.4%) and Hispanic (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Eggar 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 Eggar surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.7% · 107
- Two or more races4.4% · 5
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Eggar
Eggar 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
#128,249
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 133
+17 bearers (+14.7%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 5,788 places
2020
#147,221
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
-20 bearers (-15.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 18,972 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #134,037 | 116 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #128,249 | 133 | 0.05 | +17 bearers (+14.7%) | Up 5,788 places |
| 2020 | #147,221 | 113 | 0.04 | -20 bearers (-15.0%) | Down 18,972 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 Eggar 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 | #128,249 | #147,221 | -14.8% |
| Count | 133 | 113 | -15.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -24.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Eggar bearers went from 133 to 113 (-15.0% change). The surname moved down 18,972 positions in the national ranking, going from #128,249 to #147,221.
FAQ
Eggar surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Eggar?
Name Census estimates that about 130 living Americans carry the surname Eggar. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,636,572 residents.
How common is Eggar?
Eggar 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 Eggar. 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 Eggar.
Has Eggar become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Eggar went from 133 recorded bearers to 113. That is a decrease of 20 (-15.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #128,249 to #147,221.
What does the Census say about the background of Eggar?
Among Census respondents with the surname Eggar, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.4%) and Hispanic (0.9%). 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 Eggar in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.7% (107 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Eggar appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.7%), Two or More Races (4.4%), Hispanic (0.9%). 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 Eggar (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 Eggar mean?
An archaic habitational surname derived from the village of Eggar in Gloucestershire. 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 Eggar (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 share the surname Eggar?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.