Evans
A patronymic surname derived from the given name Evan, meaning "the son of Evan" in Welsh.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 413,190 Americans carry the last name Evans. That puts it at #53 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 120.55 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 830 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Evans surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
413K
1 in 830
Census rank
#53
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
120.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
356K
common in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 355,593 bearers of the surname Evans in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 120.55 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 53rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Evans, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.4%. The next largest groups are Black (25.7%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Evans
The surname Evans is of Welsh origin, derived from the personal name Iefan, which is the Welsh form of John. It is believed to have originated in the early Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century, in various parts of Wales.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Black Book of St. David's, a medieval manuscript from the 13th century, which mentions an individual named Ieuan ab Iorwerth. The name Ieuan, later anglicized as Evan or Evans, became a common patronymic surname in Wales, meaning "son of Evan."
The surname Evans is also linked to several place names in Wales, such as Evanstown in Flintshire and Evanslough in Radnorshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname Evans who lived or owned land in those areas.
Among the notable individuals with the surname Evans throughout history are:
1. Griffith Evans (c. 1670-1737), a Welsh clergyman and author known for his work "A Map of Universal History."
2. Sir John Evans (1823-1908), a British archaeologist and numismatist, known for his contributions to the study of ancient stone tools and coins.
3. Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880), better known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist renowned for works such as "Middlemarch" and "The Mill on the Floss."
4. William Evans (1790-1872), a Welsh Baptist minister and educator, who played a significant role in the establishment of the Baptist College in Haverfordwest.
5. Sir John Evans (1928-2011), a British entrepreneur and philanthropist, known for founding and leading the successful retail chain Next.
The surname Evans has a rich history rooted in the Welsh culture and language. Over time, it has spread beyond Wales to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, carried by individuals of Welsh descent or those who adopted the name for various reasons.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Evans
Among Census respondents with the surname Evans, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.4%. The next largest groups are Black (25.7%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Evans bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Evans surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White68.4%
- Black or African American25.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Two or more races2.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Evans surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #53 | #53 | 0.0% |
| Count | 355,593 | 355,593 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 120.55 | 120.55 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Evans bearers went from 355,593 to 355,593 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #53 to #53.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Evans
FAQ
Evans surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Evans?
The surname Evans holds position #53 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 413,190 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 120.55 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Evans surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Evans, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.4%. The next largest groups are Black (25.7%) and Hispanic (2.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.