Elfman
A surname derived from the Old English words 'elf' meaning 'elf' and 'man' meaning 'person'.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 343 Americans carry the last name Elfman. That puts it at #69,392 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 999,284 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Elfman surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
343
1 in 999,284
Census rank
#69,392
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
283
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 283 bearers of the surname Elfman in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 69392nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Elfman, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.3%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Elfman
The surname ELFMAN is believed to have originated in Germany, likely during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old Germanic words "alb" or "alf", meaning elf or supernatural creature, and "mann", meaning man or person. The name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was considered mischievous or impish in nature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ELFMAN can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, Germany, dating back to the 12th century. In this record, a man named "Elfemannus" is mentioned as a witness to a land transaction.
During the 13th century, the name ELFMAN appeared in various German chronicles and records, such as the Annales Colonienses Maximi, a chronicle from the city of Cologne. This suggests that the name was fairly well-established in certain regions of Germany by that time.
Notable individuals with the surname ELFMAN include Johannes Elfman, a German painter and engraver who lived in the 16th century, and Heinrich Elfman, a German composer and organist from the 17th century.
In the 18th century, the name ELFMAN can be found in records from the town of Nürnberg, where a family of that name was involved in the local guild system. One member, Hans Elfman (1712-1784), was a respected master craftsman and clockmaker.
Another notable figure was Carl Friedrich Elfman (1799-1865), a German philosopher and educator who wrote extensively on the importance of moral education and character development in children.
As the name spread beyond Germany, it can be found in various spellings and variations, such as Elpman, Elfmann, and Elphman, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of different regions.
Overall, the surname ELFMAN has a rich history that spans several centuries and reflects the diverse cultural and linguistic landscape of Germanic Europe. While its origins may have been rooted in folklore and descriptive nicknames, the name has since become a respected and established surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Elfman
Among Census respondents with the surname Elfman, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.3%.
The bar chart below shows how Elfman bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Elfman surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White99.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Elfman surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #69,392 | #69,392 | 0.0% |
| Count | 283 | 283 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Elfman bearers went from 283 to 283 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #69,392 to #69,392.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Elfman
FAQ
Elfman surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Elfman?
The surname Elfman holds position #69,392 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 343 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Elfman surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Elfman, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.3%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.