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

Ezell, 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 Ezell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ezell in America

Ezell is the 3247th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ezell surname appeared 11,121 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Ezell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ezell 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 Ezell

The surname Ezell is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English personal name "Ezra," which means "help" or "helper." Alternatively, it may have been derived from the Hebrew name "Ezra," which means "helper" or "protection."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Placita de Quo Warranto rolls from 1292, which mention a "William Ezell" from Gloucestershire. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1327, where a "John Ezell" is listed as a taxpayer.

In the 14th century, the name Ezell was associated with various places in England, including the village of Ezell in Northumberland and the hamlet of Ezell in Yorkshire. The spelling of the name varied, with alternative forms such as "Ezel," "Ezell," and "Ezill" being recorded.

One notable individual bearing the Ezell surname was John Ezell, a merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Vintners in London during the late 16th century. Another was William Ezell, who served as a captain in the English Civil War and was killed in battle near Oxford in 1645.

In the 17th century, the Ezell family established themselves in the county of Somerset, where they were known as landowners and farmers. A prominent member of this branch was Richard Ezell (1628-1692), who served as a justice of the peace and was involved in local politics.

As the centuries progressed, the Ezell surname spread to other parts of England and eventually to other countries, including the United States, where it gained a foothold in the southern states during the colonial era. One notable American bearing the name was John Ezell (1776-1856), a soldier who fought in the War of 1812 and later became a successful businessman in Tennessee.

Another noteworthy individual was Sarah Ezell (1841-1923), a pioneer and educator who helped establish schools in the American West, particularly in Wyoming and Colorado. She was also an advocate for women's rights and played a role in the suffrage movement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ezell

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

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

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

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