Find out how popular the last name Elyas is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Elyas.
An Arabic surname derived from the biblical name Elijah.
Elyas, 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 Elyas surname is from the 2010 census data.
Elyas is the 113155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Elyas surname appeared 155 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 Elyas.
The surname Elyas originates from the Arabic name 'Ilyas', which is derived from the biblical name Elijah. It is believed that the name first appeared in Europe during the Middle Ages, brought by Arab traders and travellers.
The earliest known record of the name Elyas can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as 'Elias', which was a common spelling variation at the time.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name Elyas became more widespread across Europe, particularly in England and France. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Sir William Elyas, a knight who fought in the Third Crusade (1189-1192) under King Richard I.
In the 14th century, the surname Elyas was prominent in the county of Shropshire, England. Records show that a family by the name of Elyas owned land in the village of Condover, near Shrewsbury. This village is believed to be the origin of the place name 'Elyaston', which was an early spelling variation of the surname.
Over the centuries, the surname Elyas has undergone various spelling changes, including Elias, Ellys, and Ely. One notable individual with this surname was John Ely (c.1490-1556), who served as the Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII.
Another historical figure with the surname Elyas was Sir George Elyas (1578-1640), a member of the English Parliament and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.
In the 18th century, the surname Elyas was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One notable individual from this period was William Elyas (1718-1792), a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London.
Throughout the 19th century, individuals with the surname Elyas continued to make significant contributions in various fields. One such individual was Sir Charles Elyas (1821-1898), a British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.
Another notable figure was Mary Elyas (1842-1918), a pioneering educator and women's rights advocate who established several schools for girls in England.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Elyas.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Elyas was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences | 
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 54.19% | 84 | 
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | 18.06% | 28 | 
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 8.39% | 13 | 
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) | 
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 10.97% | 17 | 
| Hispanic Origin | (S)% | (S) | 
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.
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 Elyas was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/elyas-surname-popularity/">Elyas last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Elyas last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/elyas-surname-popularity/.
"Elyas last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/elyas-surname-popularity/. Accessed 4 November, 2025
Elyas last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/elyas-surname-popularity/.
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