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

Ethan, 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 Ethan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ethan in America

Ethan is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ethan surname appeared 121 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 Ethan.

The history of the last name Ethan

The surname Ethan is believed to have originated from the Hebrew name Etan, which means "firm" or "enduring." It is an ancient name that can be traced back to biblical times.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Ethan are found in the Old Testament, where it is mentioned as the name of one of the wise men of King Solomon's court. In 1 Kings 4:31, the Bible states, "For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol."

While the surname Ethan is primarily associated with its Hebrew origins, it is also believed to have been influenced by the Old English word "æthan," which means "to issue forth" or "to breathe." This connection suggests that the name may have been adopted by some Anglo-Saxon families during the early medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Ethan was William Ethan, a landowner in Oxfordshire, England, who was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. This historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of land and population in England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname Ethan appeared in various forms, including Etan, Ethan, and Ethon, in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk.

Notable individuals with the surname Ethan throughout history include:

1. John Ethan (c. 1490-1557), an English Protestant reformer and theologian who played a significant role in the English Reformation.
2. Thomas Ethan (1555-1624), an English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
3. William Ethan (1609-1679), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Wigan in Lancashire.
4. Samuel Ethan (1670-1732), a prominent British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London.
5. Mary Ethan (1795-1868), a noted British author and poet who published several works during the Romantic era.

The surname Ethan has also been associated with various place names, such as Ethan Green in Buckinghamshire, Ethan Hill in Derbyshire, and Ethan Manor in Yorkshire, which may have influenced the adoption of the surname in those areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ethan

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

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 Ethan 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.

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

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

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