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

First, 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 First surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of First in America

First is the 20971st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The First surname appeared 1,255 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 First.

We can also compare 2010 data for First 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 First

The surname FIRST has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "fyrst," meaning "first" or "foremost." This surname may have been given to the firstborn son or the first settler in a particular area.

One of the earliest recorded references to the FIRST surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census-like records from the reign of King Edward I. The name appears as "Robert le Fyrst" in these records.

In the 14th century, the surname FIRST is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where a certain "John le Furst" is listed as a taxpayer. This suggests that the family may have had roots in the county of Worcestershire during that time period.

The FIRST surname is also found in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662-1666, which were records of households required to pay a tax based on the number of hearths or fireplaces in their homes. This indicates that the name had become more widespread across England by the 17th century.

One notable individual with the FIRST surname was Sir Thomas First (1548-1616), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Woodstock. He was also an influential landowner and businessman in Oxfordshire.

Another prominent figure was John First (1622-1686), an English clergyman and author who served as the Dean of Worcester Cathedral. He was known for his writings on theological subjects and his involvement in the controversies surrounding the Church of England during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the FIRST surname can be found in the records of the East India Company, with a certain John First (1720-1795) serving as a captain in the company's maritime fleet. He was involved in various trading voyages to India and other parts of Asia.

The name FIRST has also been associated with several place names in England, such as First Green in Buckinghamshire and First Lane in Berkshire. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the FIRST surname or related to the meaning of the name itself.

Other notable individuals with the FIRST surname include:

1. William First (1797-1876), a British explorer and naturalist who traveled extensively in South America and documented the flora and fauna of the region.

2. Mary First (1858-1942), an English suffragist and activist who campaigned for women's rights and played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement.

3. John First (1878-1956), an American businessman and philanthropist who established the First Foundation, which supported various educational and charitable causes.

4. Edward First (1901-1987), a British artist and sculptor known for his abstract works and contributions to the modernist movement in art.

5. Alice First (1923-2012), an American author and journalist who wrote extensively on social and political issues, earning acclaim for her insightful reporting and commentary.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name First

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!