2000
#9,436
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,160
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.17
Rare Last name
Eugene
A French surname derived from the Greek given name Eugenios, meaning "well-born" or "noble."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,405 Americans carry the last name Eugene. That puts it at #6,870 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.58 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 63,414 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Eugene 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 Eugene with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
5.4K
1 in 63,414
Census rank
#6,870
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,713 bearers of the surname Eugene in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.58 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6870th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Eugene, the largest self-reported group is Black at 84.9%. The next largest groups are White (7.0%) and Hispanic (3.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Eugene
The surname Eugene originated in Ancient Greece, derived from the Greek word "eugenes" which means "well-born" or "of noble birth." It was initially used as a personal name in the Byzantine Empire, before gradually evolving into a surname in various parts of Europe.
During the Middle Ages, the name Eugene was particularly popular among the nobility and aristocracy in regions such as France, Italy, and the Low Countries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Eugene can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, where it appeared under the spelling "Eugenes."
In the 12th century, a prominent figure bearing the surname Eugene was Saint Eugene III, who served as Pope from 1145 to 1153. He played a significant role in the Second Crusade and worked towards resolving disputes between the Church and the Holy Roman Empire.
Another notable individual with the surname Eugene was Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736), a renowned military commander and statesman who served under the Holy Roman Empire. He achieved great victories against the Ottoman Empire and was regarded as one of the most successful military leaders of his time.
In the realm of literature, the surname Eugene is associated with the Russian writer Eugene Onegin (1799-1837), whose novel in verse "Eugene Onegin" is considered a masterpiece of Russian literature and a classic of the romantic era.
During the 19th century, Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863), a French Romantic artist, made significant contributions to the world of art with his iconic paintings such as "Liberty Leading the People" and "The Death of Sardanapalus." His works are celebrated for their vibrant colors, dynamic compositions, and expressive brushwork.
In more recent history, Eugene V. Debs (1855-1926) was a prominent American labor leader and socialist who ran for President of the United States five times between 1900 and 1920. He played a crucial role in the formation of industrial unions and advocated for workers' rights and social reforms.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the surname Eugene throughout history, highlighting its rich heritage and diverse cultural associations.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Eugene
Among Census respondents with the surname Eugene, the largest self-reported group is Black at 84.9%. The next largest groups are White (7.0%) and Hispanic (3.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Eugene 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 Eugene surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American84.9% · 3,999
- White7.0% · 329
- Hispanic or Latino3.9% · 186
- Two or more races2.6% · 123
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2% · 58
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 18
Timeline
Historical Census data for Eugene
Eugene 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
#7,870
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,205
+1,045 bearers (+33.1%)
Per 100,000 1.43
Rank movement Up 1,566 places
2020
#6,870
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,713
+508 bearers (+12.1%)
Per 100,000 1.58
Rank movement Up 1,000 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #9,436 | 3,160 | 1.17 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #7,870 | 4,205 | 1.43 | +1,045 bearers (+33.1%) | Up 1,566 places |
| 2020 | #6,870 | 4,713 | 1.58 | +508 bearers (+12.1%) | Up 1,000 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 Eugene 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 | #7,870 | #6,870 | 12.7% |
| Count | 4,205 | 4,713 | 12.1% |
| Per 100K | 1.43 | 1.58 | 10.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Eugene bearers went from 4,205 to 4,713 (+12.1% change). The surname moved up 1,000 positions in the national ranking, going from #7,870 to #6,870.
FAQ
Eugene surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Eugene?
Name Census estimates that about 5,405 living Americans carry the surname Eugene. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 63,414 residents.
How common is Eugene?
Eugene ranks #6,870 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.58 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 4,713 people with the surname Eugene. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (5,405), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.58 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.58 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Eugene.
Has Eugene become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Eugene went from 4,205 recorded bearers to 4,713. That is an increase of 508 (+12.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #7,870 to #6,870.
What does the Census say about the background of Eugene?
Among Census respondents with the surname Eugene, the largest self-reported group is Black at 84.9%. The next largest groups are White (7.0%) and Hispanic (3.9%). 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?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Eugene in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.9% (3,999 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Eugene appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (84.9%), White (7.0%), Hispanic (3.9%). 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 Eugene (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 Eugene mean?
A French surname derived from the Greek given name Eugenios, meaning "well-born" or "noble." 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 Eugene (1.58 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 Eugene?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how common the surname Eugene is at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.