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

Elvis, 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 Elvis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elvis in America

Elvis is the 60045th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elvis surname appeared 336 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 Elvis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elvis 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 Elvis

The surname Elvis is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "elf" (referring to a small supernatural being) and "wisc" (meaning a meadow or stream), essentially translating to "elf meadow" or "elf stream."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Aluuisc" and "Aluuiscus." This suggests that the name was present in various regions of England, particularly in areas with Anglo-Saxon influence, during the 11th century.

Throughout the centuries, the surname underwent various spelling variations, including Elvish, Elvishe, Elwish, and Elwysh, among others. These variations reflect the evolution of the English language and regional dialects over time.

Notably, the surname Elvis was associated with several historical figures, including John Elvis (c. 1595 - 1658), an English explorer and navigator who played a role in the colonization of Bermuda. Another prominent individual was Reverend Robert Elvis (1670 - 1743), an Anglican clergyman and author from Lincolnshire, England.

In the 19th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of John Elvis Steen (1804 - 1868), a Baptist minister and author from Virginia, United States. His son, Iesha Elvis, born in 1843, was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Ella Elvis Thayer (1857 - 1944), a prominent American educator and activist from Massachusetts, who advocated for women's rights and educational reform.

While the surname Elvis has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who emigrated from the British Isles. However, it is important to note that this detailed history focuses solely on the surname Elvis and does not include information about its use as a first or given name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elvis

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

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

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

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