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

Elrod, 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 Elrod surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elrod in America

Elrod is the 3305th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elrod surname appeared 10,851 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 Elrod.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elrod 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 Elrod

The surname Elrod has its origins in the English language, with roots dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "el" meaning "elk" and "rod" meaning "clearing" or "meadow." Thus, the name Elrod may have initially referred to someone who lived near an elk meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Elrod can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears to have been concentrated in the counties of Devon and Somerset in the southwest of England during this time.

In the 13th century, records show a William Elrod, born around 1230, who served as a knight under King Edward I. This suggests that the Elrod family had achieved a degree of prominence and status by this period.

During the 16th century, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Elrode, Elrodd, and Ellrod. One notable figure from this era was John Elrod, born in 1527, who was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol.

The 17th century saw the migration of some Elrod families to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Thomas Elrod, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. Another notable individual was Reverend John Elrod, born in 1642, who was a prominent Puritan minister in Massachusetts.

In the 18th century, the Elrod surname continued to spread across the United States. One notable figure was Colonel Samuel Elrod, born in 1740, who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

As the centuries progressed, the Elrod surname continued to be represented in various fields and professions. Some notable individuals include:

1. James Elrod (1823-1899), a prominent lawyer and politician from Arkansas.
2. John Elrod (1876-1952), an American baseball player who played for several major league teams.
3. Rebecca Elrod (1960-present), an American academic and university administrator.
4. Philip Elrod (1935-2019), a distinguished jurist who served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
5. Michael Elrod (1969-present), an American businessman and entrepreneur in the technology industry.

The Elrod surname has a rich history that spans centuries and continents, with roots firmly planted in the early medieval period of England. Despite its widespread distribution, the name has maintained a consistent connection to its origins, reflecting the enduring legacy of those who once lived near the elk meadows of ancient Britain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elrod

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

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

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

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