2000
#13,451
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,076
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.77
Rare Last name
Fodor
Occupational surname for a cart driver or wagoner, derived from the Hungarian word "fuvaros."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,253 Americans carry the last name Fodor. That puts it at #14,572 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.66 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 152,132 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Fodor 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 Fodor with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.3K
1 in 152,132
Census rank
#14,572
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,965 bearers of the surname Fodor in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.66 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14572nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Fodor, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Fodor
The surname Fodor has its origins in Hungary, and it is believed to have emerged around the 13th century. The name is derived from the Hungarian word "fodor," which means "curly" or "wavy," likely referring to someone with curly hair or a person who worked with curled or woven materials.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fodor can be found in the Regestrum Varadiense, a medieval manuscript from the late 13th century, which documented legal proceedings in the Diocese of Várad (present-day Oradea, Romania). This document mentions individuals with the surname Fodor, indicating that the name was already in use during that period.
In the 16th century, the name Fodor appeared in various records and documents from the Kingdom of Hungary, which included parts of present-day Slovakia, Croatia, and Romania. One notable individual from this time was János Fodor (c. 1535-1599), a Hungarian Protestant minister and writer who played a significant role in the Reformation in Hungary.
During the 17th century, the Fodor surname was found in various parts of the Kingdom of Hungary, including the regions of Transylvania and the Partium (now part of Romania). One prominent figure from this era was István Fodor (1687-1764), a Hungarian Reformed minister and author who wrote extensively on theological topics.
In the 18th century, the name Fodor was particularly prevalent in the region of Transylvania, which was part of the Habsburg Monarchy at the time. One notable individual from this period was Gergely Fodor (1778-1844), a Hungarian writer and educator who published works on philosophy and pedagogy.
The 19th century saw the Fodor surname spread across the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with individuals bearing this name found in various regions, including present-day Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Serbia. One prominent figure from this era was József Fodor (1858-1939), a Hungarian lawyer and politician who served as the Minister of Justice in the Austro-Hungarian government.
Throughout history, the Fodor surname has been associated with various professions, including clergy, writers, educators, and politicians. While the name originated in Hungary, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Fodor
Among Census respondents with the surname Fodor, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Fodor 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 Fodor surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.5% · 1,779
- Hispanic or Latino5.0% · 98
- Two or more races3.0% · 59
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0% · 20
- Black or African American0.3% · 6
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Fodor
Fodor 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
#14,213
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,112
+36 bearers (+1.7%)
Per 100,000 0.72
Rank movement Down 762 places
2020
#14,572
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,965
-147 bearers (-7.0%)
Per 100,000 0.66
Rank movement Down 359 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #13,451 | 2,076 | 0.77 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #14,213 | 2,112 | 0.72 | +36 bearers (+1.7%) | Down 762 places |
| 2020 | #14,572 | 1,965 | 0.66 | -147 bearers (-7.0%) | Down 359 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 Fodor 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 | #14,213 | #14,572 | -2.5% |
| Count | 2,112 | 1,965 | -7.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.72 | 0.66 | -8.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Fodor bearers went from 2,112 to 1,965 (-7.0% change). The surname moved down 359 positions in the national ranking, going from #14,213 to #14,572.
FAQ
Fodor surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Fodor?
Name Census estimates that about 2,253 living Americans carry the surname Fodor. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 152,132 residents.
How common is Fodor?
Fodor ranks #14,572 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.66 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 1,965 people with the surname Fodor. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,253), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.66 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.66 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 Fodor.
Has Fodor become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Fodor went from 2,112 recorded bearers to 1,965. That is a decrease of 147 (-7.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #14,213 to #14,572.
What does the Census say about the background of Fodor?
Among Census respondents with the surname Fodor, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%). 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 Fodor in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.5% (1,779 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Fodor appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (90.5%), Hispanic (5.0%), Two or More Races (3.0%). 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 Fodor (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 Fodor mean?
Occupational surname for a cart driver or wagoner, derived from the Hungarian word "fuvaros." 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 Fodor (0.66 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 share the surname Fodor?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.