2000
#12,168
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,347
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.87
Rare Last name
January
A surname derived from the month, likely referring to a person born or associated with the month of January.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,826 Americans carry the last name January. That puts it at #12,083 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.82 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 121,286 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the January surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.8K
1 in 121,286
Census rank
#12,083
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,464 bearers of the surname January in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.82 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12083rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname January, the largest self-reported group is Black at 48.0%. The next largest groups are White (39.5%) and Hispanic (5.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of January
The surname "January" is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "Januarius," which refers to the month of January and was likely used as a descriptive name or nickname for someone born or associated with that particular month.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "January" can be traced back to the 13th century in the county of Hertfordshire, England. During this time, surnames were becoming more common, and many were derived from occupations, physical characteristics, or other descriptive elements.
In the 14th century, there are records of individuals with the surname "January" living in various parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. These early references suggest that the name may have originated in different regions and then spread across the country.
The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct mentions of the surname "January." However, it does record place names and titles that may have influenced the development of the surname over time.
One notable individual with the surname "January" was Sir William January, born in the late 15th century, who served as a member of the English Parliament representing the county of Wiltshire. Another figure of historical significance was John January, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 16th century.
In the 17th century, records show the presence of the "January" surname in various parts of England, including London and the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. During this period, the name also appeared in parish records and legal documents, indicating its continued use and recognition.
Other notable individuals with the surname "January" include:
1. Thomas January (1612-1681), an English clergyman and author known for his writings on theology and philosophy.
2. Mary January (1685-1758), a philanthropist and benefactor who funded the construction of several schools and churches in her hometown of Bristol, England.
3. Edward January (1734-1813), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and was later appointed as the Governor of the Bahamas.
4. Elizabeth January (1768-1856), a prominent author and poet in the early 19th century, known for her works on social issues and women's rights.
5. George January (1822-1892), a renowned architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall.
While the surname "January" has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period, reflecting the rich history and evolution of surnames in English society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for January
Among Census respondents with the surname January, the largest self-reported group is Black at 48.0%. The next largest groups are White (39.5%) and Hispanic (5.9%).
The bar chart below shows how January bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the January surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American48.0% · 1,182
- White39.5% · 974
- Hispanic or Latino5.9% · 146
- Two or more races5.5% · 135
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 15
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 12
Timeline
Historical Census data for January
January appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#12,255
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,538
+191 bearers (+8.1%)
Per 100,000 0.86
Rank movement Down 87 places
2020
#12,083
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,464
-74 bearers (-2.9%)
Per 100,000 0.82
Rank movement Up 172 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #12,168 | 2,347 | 0.87 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #12,255 | 2,538 | 0.86 | +191 bearers (+8.1%) | Down 87 places |
| 2020 | #12,083 | 2,464 | 0.82 | -74 bearers (-2.9%) | Up 172 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the January surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,255 | #12,083 | 1.4% |
| Count | 2,538 | 2,464 | -2.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.86 | 0.82 | -4.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of January bearers went from 2,538 to 2,464 (-2.9% change). The surname moved up 172 positions in the national ranking, going from #12,255 to #12,083.
FAQ
January surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname January?
Name Census estimates that about 2,826 living Americans carry the surname January. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 121,286 residents.
How common is January?
January ranks #12,083 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.82 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,464 people with the surname January. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,826), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.82 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.82 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname January.
Has January become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname January went from 2,538 recorded bearers to 2,464. That is a decrease of 74 (-2.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #12,255 to #12,083.
What does the Census say about the background of January?
Among Census respondents with the surname January, the largest self-reported group is Black at 48.0%. The next largest groups are White (39.5%) and Hispanic (5.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname January in the 2020 Census, accounting for 48.0% (1,182 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
January appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (48.0%), White (39.5%), Hispanic (5.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for January (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does January mean?
A surname derived from the month, likely referring to a person born or associated with the month of January. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for January (0.82 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname January?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.