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

Elf, 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 Elf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elf in America

Elf is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elf surname appeared 118 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 Elf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elf 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 Elf

The surname Elf originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English word "ælf," which means "supernatural being" or "elf." This name likely referred to a person with elfin or otherworldly features or characteristics.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Elf can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Ælf" in this historic record.

In the 13th century, the surname Elf was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, where it was spelled "Elfe" or "Elff." Some early bearers of this name include John Elfe, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273, and Roger Elfe, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

The name Elf is also connected to several place names in England, such as Elford in Staffordshire, which was recorded as "Elforde" in the Domesday Book. This suggests that some individuals may have taken their surname from the place where they lived or held land.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Elf:

1. William Elf (c. 1390 - 1451), an English Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in 1420.
2. John Elf (c. 1510 - 1568), a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
3. Thomas Elf (1597 - 1675), a Puritan minister and author who served as the vicar of Gateshead, County Durham.
4. Mary Elf (1652 - 1718), an English Quaker and diarist known for her vivid accounts of life in 17th-century London.
5. Robert Elf (1744 - 1812), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral.

While the surname Elf is relatively uncommon today, it has a rich history rooted in the folklore and medieval traditions of England, with connections to various places, individuals, and occupations over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elf

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

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

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

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