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

Hope, 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 Hope surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hope in America

Hope is the 2052nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hope surname appeared 17,562 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Hope.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hope 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 Hope

The surname Hope has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "hop," which referred to a small valley or hollow. It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, given to individuals who lived in or near such a valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1195, where a William de la Hope is mentioned. This early spelling, "de la Hope," indicates the surname's origins as a locational name, meaning "from the valley."

The surname Hope is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this historical document, the name appears as "Hopa" and is associated with various locations across the country.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname began to appear in various forms, such as "Atte Hope," "Atten Hope," and "Aten Hope." These variations suggest the name's evolution and adaptation over time, reflecting regional dialects and spelling preferences.

One notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Hope, a Scottish soldier and landowner who lived in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. He played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence and was a close ally of King Robert the Bruce.

Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Hope (1573-1646), a Scottish lawyer and Lord Advocate of Scotland. He was known for his legal treatises and his role in the Scottish Reformation.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Hope family became influential in the Netherlands, where they established a successful banking dynasty. Henry Hope (1736-1811) was a prominent Dutch merchant banker and one of the wealthiest men in Europe during his time.

The name also has connections to the Arts and Literature. John Hope (1737-1784) was a Scottish botanist and Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, while Thomas Hope (1770-1831) was a renowned English novelist, artist, and collector.

In the realm of sports, Jack Hope (1882-1963) was an English professional footballer who played for several clubs, including Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday, in the early 20th century.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements associated with the surname Hope throughout history, highlighting its enduring presence across various fields and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hope

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

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

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

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