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

Emmons, 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 Emmons surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Emmons in America

Emmons is the 2673rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Emmons surname appeared 13,493 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Emmons.

We can also compare 2010 data for Emmons 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 Emmons

The surname EMMONS is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "eme" meaning "uncle" and "mund" meaning "protection" or "guardian." It is believed to have originated in the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

The name was initially widespread in the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk in East Anglia, where many early bearers of the name were recorded. It is thought that the name was originally an occupational surname given to those who acted as guardians or caretakers for children whose parents had passed away.

One of the earliest known records of the name EMMONS can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Emunus" and "Emundes." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of land ownership and taxation in England.

In the 13th century, the surname EMMONS appeared in various forms, such as "Eymundes," "Eymondes," and "Eymunds," reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time. One notable bearer of the name was John Emunds, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1205.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the spelling of the name became more standardized as "Emmons" or "Emmonds." One notable figure from this period was Richard Emmons, a merchant and alderman of London, who was born in 1568 and died in 1636.

In the 18th century, the EMMONS surname gained prominence in the American colonies, with many immigrants from England settling in New England and other regions. One notable American bearer of the name was Ebenezer Emmons (1701-1779), a minister and educator who served as the first president of Harvard College.

Another notable figure was Nathaniel Emmons (1745-1840), a prominent Congregationalist minister and theologian in Massachusetts. He was known for his influential sermons and writings on Calvinism and the doctrine of divine sovereignty.

In the 19th century, the EMMONS name continued to be well-represented in various fields. Samuel Franklin Emmons (1841-1911) was an American geologist and mining engineer who made significant contributions to the study of ore deposits and mining geology.

Ebenezer Emmons (1799-1863) was an American geologist and naturalist who conducted extensive geological surveys in North Carolina and served as the state's first geologist.

Overall, the surname EMMONS has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been carried by notable individuals in various professions, from clergy and education to geology and commerce.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Emmons

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

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

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

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