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

Ensign, 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 Ensign surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ensign in America

Ensign is the 12153rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ensign surname appeared 2,564 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ensign.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ensign 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 Ensign

The surname Ensign is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "enseigne" meaning a sign, standard, or banner. It likely originated as an occupational name for a standard-bearer or someone who carried a banner or ensign into battle.

In medieval times, the Ensign was a key position on the battlefield, responsible for carrying and safeguarding the army's colors or standards. The name may have first appeared in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, as many French words and names were introduced to the English language.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a John le Enseigne in Oxfordshire. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records compiled for the government at the time.

By the 14th century, the name had evolved into its modern spelling of Ensign. The famous English writer and philosopher John Ensign (1625-1692) was born in Wiltshire and is considered one of the earliest notable bearers of the name.

Another prominent individual with the surname was Sir Henry Ensign (1701-1781), a British naval officer who served during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was knighted for his distinguished service.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, where a Thomas Ensign is listed as a freeman in 1635.

A notable American bearer of the name was Charles Ensign (1814-1883), a pioneer and early settler in the Oregon Territory. He played a significant role in the establishment of the city of Portland and served as the first superintendent of the Oregon State Penitentiary.

Other historical figures with the surname Ensign include James Ensign (1806-1876), a Scottish-born American painter known for his landscapes and portraiture, and William Ensign Lincoln (1809-1900), a prominent American political figure and cousin of President Abraham Lincoln.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ensign

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

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

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

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