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

Elders, 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 Elders surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elders in America

Elders is the 17258th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elders surname appeared 1,641 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Elders.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elders 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 Elders

The surname Elders is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "ealdor," which means "elder" or "chief." It is believed to have emerged as a surname during the medieval period, likely between the 11th and 13th centuries.

This surname was initially used to identify individuals who held positions of authority or leadership within their community, such as village elders, clan elders, or members of local governing bodies. It may have also been used to refer to the eldest son or heir in a family.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Elders can be found in various historical documents from the 13th century onwards. For example, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a William le Eldere is mentioned.

In the 14th century, the surname is recorded in various forms, including Eldere, Eldyr, and Eldre, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation during that time. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a John le Eldre, while the Patent Rolls of 1348 mention a Robert Eldere.

One notable individual with the surname Elders was Sir John Elders, a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire during the reign of King Edward III (1312-1377). He served as a justice of the peace and held significant land holdings in the county.

Another prominent figure was William Elders, born in 1535, who was a successful merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 16th century. He was known for his philanthropic endeavors and played a role in the establishment of several charitable institutions.

In the 17th century, the surname Elders can be found in various parish records and court documents. For example, the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1665 mention a Thomas Elders residing in the town of Nottingham.

During the 18th century, the surname Elders was associated with several notable individuals, such as Robert Elders, born in 1714, who was a renowned mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1752.

Another notable figure from this period was Elizabeth Elders, born in 1765, who was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's education. She established one of the first schools for girls in England and played a crucial role in promoting educational opportunities for women.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Elders continued to be found in various regions of England, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elders

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

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

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

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