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

Haig, 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 Haig surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Haig in America

Haig is the 17864th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Haig surname appeared 1,566 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Haig.

We can also compare 2010 data for Haig 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 Haig

The surname Haig has its origins in Scotland, and is believed to have emerged in the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Celtic word "haugh," meaning a meadow or low-lying area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Heyg" and "Hage" in these rolls.

The Haig surname is also associated with the place name Haig, a former estate located in the Scottish Borders region. This estate was once owned by the prominent Haig family, who were influential landowners and political figures in the area.

In the 16th century, the Haigs of Bemersyde were a notable branch of the family. Sir David Haig of Bemersyde (1535-1621) was a Scottish soldier and diplomat who served under King James VI of Scotland and later King James I of England.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the Haig surname was Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig (1861-1928). He was a senior officer in the British Army and played a significant role as the commander of the British Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

Other notable individuals with the surname Haig include:

1. Alexander Haig (1924-2010), an American politician and former United States Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan.

2. David Haig (born 1957), a British actor known for his roles in films such as "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "The Thin Red Line."

3. Jane Haig (1923-1997), a British artist and sculptor who was known for her abstract works.

4. Robert Haig (1916-2002), a Scottish historian and author who wrote extensively about Scottish history and culture.

5. William Haig (1907-1999), a Canadian diplomat and former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations.

The Haig surname has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds, including military figures, politicians, artists, and scholars. Its Scottish origins and associations with historical estates and events have contributed to its enduring presence throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Haig

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Haig, 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!