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

Foss, 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 Foss surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Foss in America

Foss is the 2563rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Foss surname appeared 14,094 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Foss.

We can also compare 2010 data for Foss 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 Foss

The surname Foss originates from the Old Norse language and has its roots in Norway and the surrounding Scandinavian regions. It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse word "fors," which means a waterfall or a rushing stream. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone who lived near a waterfall or a fast-flowing river.

The earliest recorded instances of the Foss surname can be traced back to the Viking Age, when Scandinavian settlers and explorers began to spread across Europe and beyond. It is likely that the name was brought to other regions, such as England and Scotland, during this period of migration and settlement.

One of the earliest known references to the Foss surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This document mentions a person named Foss, who held land in the county of Yorkshire.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Foss surname. One of the earliest was Hakon Foss (c. 1190-1264), a Norwegian nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the civil wars that plagued Norway during the 13th century.

Another prominent figure was Edward Foss (1787-1870), an English biographer and judge who authored several important works, including "The Judges of England" and "Biographical Dictionary of the Judges of England."

In the realm of literature, Joh. Foss (1820-1886) was a Norwegian poet and playwright whose works helped shape the country's cultural identity in the 19th century.

The surname Foss has also been associated with several place names, such as Foss in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. These places likely derived their names from the Old Norse word "fors," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

Moving into the modern era, one notable individual with the Foss surname was Lukas Foss (1922-2009), an American composer and conductor of German descent who made significant contributions to modern classical music.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it provides a glimpse into the rich history and diversity of individuals who have carried the Foss surname throughout the centuries and across various regions of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Foss

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

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

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

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