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

Ellerbe, 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 Ellerbe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ellerbe in America

Ellerbe is the 12174th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ellerbe surname appeared 2,560 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ellerbe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ellerbe 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 Ellerbe

The surname Ellerbe originated in England, with its roots dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "ælre" and "burh," which together mean "elder tree fort" or "elder tree fortified place." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place where elder trees grew in abundance near a fortified settlement or defensive structure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Ellerbe surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population conducted during the reign of William the Conqueror. The name was likely associated with a specific location or landholding at the time.

The surname Ellerbe has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Ellerby, Ellerbie, and Ellerbee. These variations reflect regional dialects and the evolving nature of language and spelling conventions.

In the 14th century, records show a John de Ellerby serving as a monk at the Cistercian Abbey of Fountains in Yorkshire, England. Another notable figure was Sir Robert Ellerby, a knight from Yorkshire who lived during the 15th century and was involved in military campaigns against Scotland.

During the 16th century, the surname Ellerbe appeared in several historical documents, including parish records and legal proceedings. One notable individual from this period was William Ellerby, a merchant from Yorkshire who was involved in the wool trade and held significant landholdings.

In the 17th century, the surname Ellerbe gained further prominence, with several individuals making their mark in various fields. One such person was John Ellerby, a renowned English scholar and author who wrote extensively on subjects such as history, philosophy, and theology.

As the centuries progressed, the Ellerbe surname spread across different regions of England and beyond. In the 18th century, records show a Thomas Ellerby who served as a captain in the British Royal Navy and participated in numerous naval battles.

In the 19th century, the Ellerbe surname continued to be represented in various fields, including academia, literature, and the arts. One notable figure was Arthur Ellerby, a respected English writer and poet who published several collections of poems and literary works.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ellerbe

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

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

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

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