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

Elks, 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 Elks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elks in America

Elks is the 31383rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elks surname appeared 738 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 Elks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elks 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 Elks

The surname Elks is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "Elloc," meaning "elk" or "stag." This name was likely given as a nickname to someone who possessed characteristics associated with the elk, such as strength, speed, or grace.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Elks can be traced back to the 13th century in Yorkshire, England. Notable bearers of this name include Richard Elks, a landowner in the village of Shipton, Yorkshire, mentioned in records from 1297.

In the 14th century, a variant spelling, "Elcok," appeared in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. This document was a tax record that listed individuals by name, providing valuable insight into the distribution and variations of surnames during that time.

As time passed, the surname Elks spread throughout England, with branches emerging in various regions. One notable individual was John Elks, a merchant from Bristol, who lived in the late 15th century and was recorded in the city's trade records.

During the 16th century, the surname Elks appeared in the parish records of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. This area was the birthplace of the renowned playwright William Shakespeare, though no direct connection between him and the Elks family has been established.

In the 17th century, the Elks surname gained prominence in Lancashire, with several members of the family serving as local officials and landowners. One notable figure was Thomas Elks, who was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in 1643.

The 18th century saw the Elks surname spread further across England, with records indicating families living in counties such as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Lincolnshire. Notable bearers from this period include William Elks, a respected clockmaker from London, who was active in the 1760s and known for his intricate timepieces.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, many Elks families migrated to urban centers in search of employment opportunities. One prominent figure was Sir James Elks, an industrialist and philanthropist from Manchester, who contributed significantly to the development of the city's textile industry.

Throughout history, the Elks surname has been associated with various notable individuals, including authors, artists, and academics. One example is Mary Elks, a celebrated poet from the late 19th century, whose works explored themes of nature and the human experience.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elks

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

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

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

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