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

Ellington, 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 Ellington surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ellington in America

Ellington is the 3132nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ellington surname appeared 11,522 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Ellington.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ellington 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 Ellington

The surname Ellington originates from England, deriving its roots from the Old English words "ell" meaning "elder tree" and "tun" meaning "town" or "settlement". It is believed to have first appeared in the 11th century, referring to individuals residing in areas where elder trees were plentiful.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Alintone" in reference to a village in Cambridgeshire. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including Elintone, Elyngton, and eventually, Ellington.

The name gained prominence in the 13th century when Sir Robert de Ellington, a knight from Northumberland, was noted for his military service during the Wars of Scottish Independence. His descendants continued to use the surname, with some branches settling in other parts of England, such as Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

In the 16th century, John Ellington, a merchant from Bristol, made a significant contribution to the city's trade and became a respected figure in the local community. His descendant, Edward Ellington (1598-1672), was a prominent lawyer and served as a judge during the English Civil War.

One of the most famous bearers of the surname is Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (1899-1974), the renowned American composer, pianist, and bandleader. He was a pivotal figure in the development of jazz music and is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

Another notable individual with the Ellington surname is Rosamond Ellington (1893-1989), a British sculptor and painter who gained recognition for her portraiture and religious works. Her sculptures can be found in various churches and public spaces throughout England.

William Thomas Ellington (1845-1910), an American lawyer and politician, served as a United States Representative from North Carolina and played a significant role in the state's politics during the late 19th century.

The Ellington name has also been associated with various places, such as Ellington, a village in Cambridgeshire, and Ellington, a town in Connecticut, which was named after the English settlers who established it in the 17th century.

Overall, the surname Ellington has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including military figures, merchants, lawyers, politicians, artists, and musicians, contributing to the cultural tapestry of various societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ellington

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

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

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

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