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

House, 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 House surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of House in America

House is the 844th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The House surname appeared 41,000 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 14 people would have the surname House.

We can also compare 2010 data for House 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 House

The surname House is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is thought to have derived from the Old English word "hus," meaning a dwelling or place of residence. It is believed to have emerged as a surname in the late 11th or early 12th century, initially referring to someone who lived in a prominent house or was responsible for maintaining a household.

Records show that the name House appeared in various medieval documents, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Huse." This early spelling variation reflects the evolving nature of surnames during that period, as they gradually became hereditary and more standardized over time.

One of the earliest documented instances of the surname House was found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1195, where a certain Richard de la House was mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use as a hereditary surname by the late 12th century.

During the medieval period, the House surname was also associated with various place names, such as Housham in Yorkshire and Housesteads in Northumberland. These place names likely derived from the Old English word "hus," indicating that the surname originated as a locational name, referring to someone who hailed from a particular house or settlement.

Notable historical figures who bore the surname House include John House (c. 1500-1554), an English poet and translator during the reign of Henry VIII, and Sir Michael House (c. 1570-1628), a Member of Parliament and landowner in Gloucestershire.

Another prominent bearer of the House surname was Thomas House (1659-1744), an English Anglican clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora in Ireland. He was known for his work on church history and controversial writings on religious matters.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the House surname was that of Joseph House (c. 1620-1699), an English Puritan who settled in Massachusetts and served as a deputy to the General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony.

During the American Revolution, Edward House (1744-1827) was a notable figure who served as a captain in the Continental Army and fought in several battles, including the Battle of Long Island and the Battle of Monmouth.

The House surname has been carried by many other notable individuals throughout history, reflecting its widespread presence and enduring legacy across various cultures and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name House

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

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

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

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