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

Fig, 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 Fig surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fig in America

Fig is the 103181st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fig surname appeared 174 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Fig.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fig 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 Fig

The surname FIG originated in Germany during the early medieval period, around the 8th or 9th century. It is derived from the Old High German word "figu," meaning "fig tree" or "fig fruit." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived near a fig tree or worked with figs in some capacity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the FIG surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the Duchy of Saxony, dated around 1150. The document mentions a person named "Conradus Figu," which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the FIG surname.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Rottenburg Necrology, a record of deaths and burials in the town of Rottenburg am Neckar, Baden-Württemberg. The entry lists a "Henricus Fige," who was likely a local resident of Rottenburg at the time.

During the 14th century, the FIG surname spread across various regions of Germany, including Bavaria and Saxony. In the city of Nuremberg, a prominent merchant named Hans FIG (1325-1398) was recorded as a member of the city council and a respected figure in the local community.

In the 16th century, the FIG surname made its way to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and England. One notable figure from this period was the Dutch scholar and humanist Desiderius Erasmus Figuus (1466-1536), who was born in Rotterdam and later became a renowned writer and philosopher.

Another notable individual with the FIG surname was the German painter and engraver Johann FIG (1560-1622), who was known for his detailed landscapes and religious scenes. His works can be found in various museums and galleries across Europe.

In the 18th century, the FIG surname appeared in various records in England, including parish registers and tax records. One such record from 1775 mentions a John FIG, a farmer from the village of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

As the surname spread across different regions and countries, various spelling variations emerged, such as Fige, Figge, and Feige, among others. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in the Old High German word "figu," reflecting its connection to the fig tree or fruit.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fig

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

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

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

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