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

Ingalls, 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 Ingalls surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ingalls in America

Ingalls is the 5394th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ingalls surname appeared 6,453 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Ingalls.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ingalls 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 Ingalls

The surname Ingalls is of English origin, traced back to the early 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "ing," meaning a meadow or pasture, and the word "hall," referring to a large house or manor. It is believed that the name originated from a place name, likely referring to a person who lived near or owned a meadow or hall.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ingalls can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it appears as "de Inggehale." This reference suggests that the name was associated with a specific location or manor during that time period.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, including "Ingal," "Ingalle," and "Ingold," indicating variations in spelling and pronunciation. These variations were common in medieval times due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Ingalls began to spread across different regions of England, with records showing families bearing the surname in counties such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire.

One notable individual with the surname Ingalls was Robert Ingalls, born in 1579 in Lincolnshire, England. He was one of the early settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, arriving in America in 1628 and settling in Salem, Massachusetts.

Another prominent figure was Edmund Ingalls, born in 1598 in Lincolnshire. He was among the founders of Lynn, Massachusetts, and served as a respected member of the community, holding various positions of authority.

In the 18th century, the name Ingalls gained further recognition with the birth of Reverend John Ingalls in 1721 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He was a renowned minister and played a significant role in the religious life of New England during his time.

As the Ingalls family spread across North America, they contributed to various fields, including politics, literature, and the arts. One notable figure was John James Ingalls, born in 1833 in Massachusetts. He served as a United States Senator from Kansas and was known for his oratorical skills and literary works.

Another prominent individual was Laura Ingalls Wilder, born in 1867 in Wisconsin. She was an acclaimed author best known for her series of children's books depicting life on the American frontier, including "Little House on the Prairie."

Throughout its history, the surname Ingalls has been associated with various places and individuals, reflecting its English roots and the diverse contributions of those who bore this name across different eras and locations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ingalls

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

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

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

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