2000
#16,314
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,626
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.60
Rare Last name
First
Of English origin, relating to being the firstborn child or eldest.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,193 Americans carry the last name First. That puts it at #14,872 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.64 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 156,295 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the First surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for First with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.2K
1 in 156,295
Census rank
#14,872
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,912 bearers of the surname First in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.64 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14872nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname First, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.6%) and Hispanic (6.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for First
Among Census respondents with the surname First, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.6%) and Hispanic (6.7%).
The bar chart below shows how First bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 First surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White77.7% · 1,485
- Black or African American8.6% · 164
- Hispanic or Latino6.7% · 129
- Two or more races3.2% · 62
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.0% · 39
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.7% · 33
Timeline
Historical Census data for First
First appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#20,971
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,255
-371 bearers (-22.8%)
Per 100,000 0.43
Rank movement Down 4,657 places
2020
#14,872
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,912
+657 bearers (+52.4%)
Per 100,000 0.64
Rank movement Up 6,099 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #16,314 | 1,626 | 0.60 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #20,971 | 1,255 | 0.43 | -371 bearers (-22.8%) | Down 4,657 places |
| 2020 | #14,872 | 1,912 | 0.64 | +657 bearers (+52.4%) | Up 6,099 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the First surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,971 | #14,872 | 29.1% |
| Count | 1,255 | 1,912 | 52.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.43 | 0.64 | 48.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of First bearers went from 1,255 to 1,912 (+52.4% change). The surname moved up 6,099 positions in the national ranking, going from #20,971 to #14,872.
FAQ
First surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname First?
Name Census estimates that about 2,193 living Americans carry the surname First. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 156,295 residents.
How common is First?
First ranks #14,872 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.64 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,912 people with the surname First. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,193), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.64 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.64 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname First.
Has First become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname First went from 1,255 recorded bearers to 1,912. That is an increase of 657 (+52.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #20,971 to #14,872.
What does the Census say about the background of First?
Among Census respondents with the surname First, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.6%) and Hispanic (6.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname First in the 2020 Census, accounting for 77.7% (1,485 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
First appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (77.7%), Black (8.6%), Hispanic (6.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for First (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does First mean?
Of English origin, relating to being the firstborn child or eldest. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for First (0.64 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname First?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.