Fogg
An occupational surname for someone who bred, raised, or sold birds, or a nickname for an eccentric person.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,581 Americans carry the last name Fogg. That puts it at #6,052 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.92 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 52,082 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Fogg 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
6.6K
1 in 52,082
Census rank
#6,052
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,669 bearers of the surname Fogg in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.92 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6052nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Fogg, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.6%. The next largest groups are Black (14.1%) and Two or More Races (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Fogg
The surname Fogg is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "fog" meaning "long grass" or "aftermath." It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near an area with long grass or a meadow.
The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Fogga." This entry suggests that the name was used as a locational surname, referring to someone from a place called Fogg or Fogga.
In the 13th century, the name is found in various records as "Fogge" and "Fogghe." During this time, it was particularly prevalent in the counties of Lincolnshire and Norfolk.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was William Fogge, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1188. Another notable figure was Sir John Fogge, a prominent English soldier and landowner who lived in the 14th century.
In the 16th century, the name was sometimes associated with the place name "Foggathorp" or "Foggathorp," which was a hamlet in Lincolnshire. This connection suggests that some bearers of the Fogg surname may have originated from this specific location.
A famous individual with the surname Fogg was Sir John Fogg, an English diplomat and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was born in 1534 and died in 1590.
Another notable bearer of the name was Thomas Fogg, a 17th-century English clergyman and author. He was born in 1616 and published several religious works, including "The Mariner's Companion" and "A Prospect of the Heavenly Inheritance."
In the 18th century, the surname Fogg was associated with Robert Fogg, a renowned clockmaker and inventor from Newcastle upon Tyne. He lived from 1714 to 1788 and was known for his innovative clock designs.
During the 19th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Fogg was Phileas Fogg, the fictional protagonist of Jules Verne's novel "Around the World in Eighty Days," published in 1873. Although a fictional character, Phileas Fogg has become a recognizable name associated with the Fogg surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Fogg
Among Census respondents with the surname Fogg, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.6%. The next largest groups are Black (14.1%) and Two or More Races (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Fogg 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 Fogg surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.6%
- Black or African American14.1%
- Two or more races2.2%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Fogg 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 | #6,052 | #6,052 | 0.0% |
| Count | 5,669 | 5,669 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.92 | 1.92 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Fogg bearers went from 5,669 to 5,669 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #6,052 to #6,052.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Fogg
FAQ
Fogg surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Fogg?
The surname Fogg holds position #6,052 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 6,581 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.92 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Fogg surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Fogg, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.6%. The next largest groups are Black (14.1%) and Two or More Races (2.2%). 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.