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

Eldredge, 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 Eldredge surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Eldredge in America

Eldredge is the 7517th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Eldredge surname appeared 4,426 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 Eldredge.

We can also compare 2010 data for Eldredge 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 Eldredge

The surname Eldredge is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English personal name Aldred or Aldred, which itself is composed of two elements: 'ald' meaning 'old' and 'ræd' meaning 'counsel' or 'advice'. Thus, the name Eldredge likely signified 'old counselor' or 'wise elder'.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as 'Aldredus'. This ancient document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a valuable record of landowners and tenants in England during the 11th century.

In the 12th century, the name evolved into various forms such as 'Aldrich', 'Alldridge', and 'Eldridge'. Some of these variations are linked to specific places, like the village of Eldridge in Worcestershire, which was once known as 'Aldridge'.

One notable bearer of the Eldredge name was Sir William Eldredge (1564-1624), an English Member of Parliament and landowner from Saxlingham, Norfolk. Another was John Eldredge (1737-1812), a pioneering American settler who established the town of Eldredge, Illinois, now known as East St. Louis.

In the literary world, Morgan Eldredge (1876-1957) was an American author and journalist known for his novels set in the American West. His contemporary, John Eldredge (1904-1961), was a celebrated American stage and film actor who appeared in numerous Broadway productions and Hollywood movies.

The Eldredge surname also has a notable connection to the military. Major General Marcus Eldredge (1909-1992) was a highly decorated United States Air Force officer who served in World War II and the Korean War, receiving numerous honors including the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.

While the surname Eldredge has evolved over centuries and spread across different regions, its Anglo-Saxon roots and the meaning of 'old counselor' or 'wise elder' remain a testament to its rich historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Eldredge

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!