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

Factor, 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 Factor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Factor in America

Factor is the 16031st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Factor surname appeared 1,809 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Factor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Factor 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 Factor

The surname Factor is of English origin, derived from the occupational term "factor," which referred to an agent or representative who acted on behalf of a merchant or trader. The name first emerged in the late 13th century, during the medieval period when trade and commerce were flourishing in England.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be traced back to the 14th century, with references found in various historical documents such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire and the Feet of Fines for Essex. One notable early bearer of the name was John le Factor, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332.

As trade expanded across Europe, the name Factor began to appear in other regions, including Scotland and parts of continental Europe. In Scotland, the name was often associated with the Factor Isles, a group of islands located off the west coast, suggesting a possible connection between the surname and the management or oversight of these islands.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Factor was William Factor, who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, around 1520. He was a prominent merchant and trader involved in the import and export of goods between Scotland and various European ports.

In England, the name Factor was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk, where many families bearing the surname were involved in the wool trade and textile industry. One notable figure was Thomas Factor, born in Norwich in 1642, who was a successful wool merchant and served as a alderman in the city.

Another individual of note was Sir John Factor, born in Yorkshire in 1698, who rose to prominence as a successful merchant and banker. He played a significant role in the development of the banking system in England and was knighted for his contributions to commerce and finance.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Factor appeared in various historical records and documents, including parish registers, tax rolls, and court proceedings. Some examples include Richard Factor, a landowner in Lincolnshire mentioned in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1674, and Elizabeth Factor, who was listed in the Marriage Allegations for the Diocese of London in 1721.

As the name spread across different regions and countries, variations in spelling emerged, such as Faktor, Facture, and Facteur. These variations often reflected local linguistic and cultural influences, but ultimately traced their roots back to the original English occupational term.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Factor

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

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

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

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