2000
#24,969
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 934
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.35
Rare Last name
Esler
A Scottish locational surname referring to an individual from the region of East Lothian.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,117 Americans carry the last name Esler. That puts it at #26,403 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.33 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 306,853 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Esler surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Esler with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
1.1K
1 in 306,853
Census rank
#26,403
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
974
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 974 bearers of the surname Esler in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.33 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 26403rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Esler, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Two or More Races (3.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Esler
The surname Esler has its origins in the Germanic regions of Europe, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "asal," meaning "blackbird" or "thrush," which may have been used as a nickname for someone with a dark complexion or dark hair.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Esler can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany and Switzerland. In some historical records, the name appeared with different spellings, such as Asler, Aesler, or Esler, reflecting the variation in dialects and scribal practices of the time.
One notable reference to the name Esler is found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval German charters and records from the 13th to the 15th centuries. The name is mentioned in connection with land transactions and legal documents, indicating that individuals bearing this surname had achieved a certain level of prominence and social status.
In the 16th century, the Esler family had established itself in the city of Augsburg, a prominent center of trade and commerce in the Holy Roman Empire. Johannes Esler (1556-1624), a successful merchant and alderman, was a well-known figure in the city's commercial circles.
As the Esler name spread across Europe, it gained recognition in various fields. Hans Esler (1677-1748), a German painter and engraver, was celebrated for his landscape paintings and etchings, which captured the natural beauty of the German countryside.
In the 19th century, the Esler family made its mark in the field of academia. Johann Esler (1822-1897), a German philologist and linguist, contributed significantly to the study of ancient languages and their influence on modern German dialects.
Moving into the 20th century, the name Esler gained prominence in the realm of literature. Joachim Esler (1901-1976), a German novelist and playwright, received critical acclaim for his works exploring the complexities of human relationships and societal norms.
While the surname Esler has its roots in Germany and the surrounding regions, it has since spread across the globe, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields throughout history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Esler
Among Census respondents with the surname Esler, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Two or More Races (3.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Esler bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Esler surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.3% · 880
- Hispanic or Latino4.3% · 42
- Two or more races3.1% · 30
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.1% · 11
- Black or African American1.0% · 10
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Esler
Esler appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#27,974
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 857
-77 bearers (-8.2%)
Per 100,000 0.29
Rank movement Down 3,005 places
2020
#26,403
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 974
+117 bearers (+13.7%)
Per 100,000 0.33
Rank movement Up 1,571 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #24,969 | 934 | 0.35 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #27,974 | 857 | 0.29 | -77 bearers (-8.2%) | Down 3,005 places |
| 2020 | #26,403 | 974 | 0.33 | +117 bearers (+13.7%) | Up 1,571 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Esler surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #27,974 | #26,403 | 5.6% |
| Count | 857 | 974 | 13.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.29 | 0.33 | 12.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Esler bearers went from 857 to 974 (+13.7% change). The surname moved up 1,571 positions in the national ranking, going from #27,974 to #26,403.
FAQ
Esler surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Esler?
Name Census estimates that about 1,117 living Americans carry the surname Esler. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 306,853 residents.
How common is Esler?
Esler ranks #26,403 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.33 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 974 people with the surname Esler. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (1,117), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.33 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.33 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Esler.
Has Esler become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Esler went from 857 recorded bearers to 974. That is an increase of 117 (+13.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #27,974 to #26,403.
What does the Census say about the background of Esler?
Among Census respondents with the surname Esler, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Two or More Races (3.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Esler in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.3% (880 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Esler appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (90.3%), Hispanic (4.3%), Two or More Races (3.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Esler (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Esler mean?
A Scottish locational surname referring to an individual from the region of East Lothian. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Esler (0.33 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Esler?
For a quick modern take, check how many people are called Esler on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.