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

Eldred, 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 Eldred surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Eldred in America

Eldred is the 7275th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Eldred surname appeared 4,580 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Eldred.

We can also compare 2010 data for Eldred 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 Eldred

The surname Eldred is of Anglo-Saxon origin, believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English personal name Ealdred, which is composed of the elements "eal" meaning "old" and "ræd" meaning "counsel" or "advice". This name was particularly popular among the Anglo-Saxons and was often bestowed upon individuals who were respected for their wisdom and experience.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Eldred can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Eldred" and "Eldrede" in various counties, suggesting its widespread use during the Norman period.

The Eldred surname has a strong association with the county of Norfolk, where it is believed to have originated. Several place names in Norfolk, such as Eldred's Weald and Eldred's Lane, bear the name, indicating the presence of influential Eldred families in the area during the Middle Ages.

Notable individuals with the surname Eldred include John Eldred (c. 1552-1632), an English explorer and merchant who undertook voyages to the East Indies and wrote accounts of his travels. Another prominent figure was Sir John Eldred (1591-1654), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Charles I.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Eldred dates back to the 17th century. Samuel Eldred (1629-1689) was a prominent Quaker leader and early settler in New Jersey, who played a significant role in the establishment of the colony.

Other notable individuals with the surname Eldred include John Eldred (1836-1909), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, and Eben Eldred (1852-1925), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the American Bank Note Company and made significant contributions to educational institutions in his home state of New York.

Throughout its history, the surname Eldred has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from exploration and colonization to politics, law, and business. Despite its Anglo-Saxon origins, the name has been widely dispersed across different regions and countries, reflecting the migrations and cultural exchanges that have shaped human societies over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Eldred

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

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

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

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