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

Esau, 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 Esau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Esau in America

Esau is the 21972nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Esau surname appeared 1,181 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 Esau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Esau 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 Esau

The surname Esau has its origins in the Germanic regions of Europe, specifically in the area that is now modern-day Germany. The earliest records of the name date back to the 12th century, but its roots can be traced even further back to the biblical figure of Esau, who was the elder son of Isaac and Rebekah in the Book of Genesis.

The name Esau is believed to be derived from the Hebrew word "Esav," which means "hairy" or "rough." This biblical connection suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive surname to individuals with notable physical characteristics, such as a hairy or rugged appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Esau surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Saxony, Germany, dating back to the late 12th century. In this document, a person named "Esau de Lochtene" is mentioned, suggesting that the name was already in use as a surname during that time.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the Esau surname appeared in various records and documents across Germany and the surrounding regions. In the 14th century, a notable figure named Johannes Esau was a prominent theologian and rector at the University of Erfurt in Thuringia, Germany.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent several spelling variations, such as Esawe, Esaw, and Esauwe, reflecting the regional dialects and languages of the areas where it was adopted.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Esau was Hans Esau, a German painter and engraver who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. His works, including religious paintings and engravings, can be found in various churches and museums throughout Germany.

In the 17th century, the Esau surname was also found in the Netherlands, where a notable figure named Pieter Esau was a successful merchant and ship owner based in Amsterdam. He played a significant role in the Dutch East India Company's trade with the East Indies during the golden age of Dutch maritime exploration and commerce.

Another famous bearer of the Esau surname was Johann Friedrich Esau, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1676 to 1743. He was a prominent figure in the Lutheran church and served as a professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg, where he made significant contributions to the field of philosophy and religious studies.

In the 19th century, the Esau surname gained further recognition with the birth of Johann Esau (1826-1898), a German architect and urban planner. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings and urban landscapes in cities such as Berlin and Potsdam, leaving a lasting impact on the architectural heritage of Germany.

While the surname Esau has its roots in Germany and the surrounding regions, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the biblical and Germanic traditions from which it emerged.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Esau

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

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

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

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