Faraday
Derived from the English place name meaning "the faring meadow".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 274 Americans carry the last name Faraday. That puts it at #81,772 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,250,928 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Faraday 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
274
1 in 1,250,928
Census rank
#81,772
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
231
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 231 bearers of the surname Faraday in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 81772nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Faraday, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.4%. The next largest groups are Black (8.7%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Faraday
The surname FARADAY originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words 'faran' meaning to travel and 'dæg' meaning day, referring to someone who traveled often or perhaps a messenger. The name was first found in Yorkshire, England and is thought to have been an occupational surname.
Records indicate the surname FARADAY appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, compiled by William the Conqueror's men after the Norman invasion of England. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johannes Faraday, documented in Yorkshire county records in 1273.
During the 14th century, the surname was also written as Faradaye, Faredaye, and Farraday. Some variations likely stemmed from different dialects and phonetic spellings at the time. The name Faraday may have originated as a place name before becoming a surname, as the village of Fardaye is mentioned in historic manuscripts from the 1300s.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname FARADAY was Michael Faraday (1791-1867), the renowned English scientist who made significant contributions to the study of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. His discoveries laid the foundations for the field of electromagnetic technology.
Other notable bearers of the FARADAY name include:
1) James Faraday (1790-1871), an English watchmaker and inventor.
2) Joseph Faraday (1797-1876), an English architectural sculptor.
3) William Faraday (1836-1925), an English architect and surveyor.
4) Frank Faraday (1828-1908), an English academic and priest.
5) Thomas Faraday (1804-1879), an English author and translator.
The FARADAY surname has a long and well-documented history in England, tracing back to the Middle Ages. Its origins are likely rooted in an occupational description or a place name before evolving into a hereditary family name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Faraday
Among Census respondents with the surname Faraday, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.4%. The next largest groups are Black (8.7%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Faraday 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 Faraday surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.4%
- Black or African American8.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Two or more races2.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Faraday 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 | #81,772 | #81,772 | 0.0% |
| Count | 231 | 231 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Faraday bearers went from 231 to 231 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #81,772 to #81,772.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Faraday
FAQ
Faraday surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Faraday?
The surname Faraday holds position #81,772 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 274 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Faraday surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Faraday, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.4%. The next largest groups are Black (8.7%) and Hispanic (2.6%). 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.