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

Joe, 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 Joe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Joe in America

Joe is the 3819th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Joe surname appeared 9,280 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Joe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Joe 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 Joe

The surname "Joe" is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the male given name "Joe," which is a shortened form of the name "Joseph." The name "Joseph" has its roots in the Hebrew name "Yosef," meaning "he will add" or "he will increase."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Joe" can be found in the Domesday Book, a historical record commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book mentions a landowner named "Ioe" in the county of Sussex, which is likely an early spelling variation of the surname.

During the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from personal names, occupations, or descriptive elements. The surname "Joe" likely emerged as a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally used to identify someone as the son of a person named "Joe" or "Joseph."

In the 14th century, records show a "William Joe" living in Yorkshire, and in the 15th century, a "John Joe" is documented in the Lancashire county records. These early examples demonstrate the gradual adoption of the surname by families across different regions of England.

Notable individuals who bore the surname "Joe" throughout history include:

1. Samuel Joe (1817-1891), an English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London.
2. Mary Joe (1856-1932), a British author and poet who wrote under the pen name "Mary Josephine."
3. William Joe (1892-1971), a Scottish football player who played as a forward for several clubs, including Rangers and Celtic.
4. Thomas Joe (1927-2003), an American artist and painter renowned for his abstract expressionist works.
5. Emily Joe (born 1972), a Canadian author and journalist who has written extensively on indigenous issues and culture.

The surname "Joe" has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as "Joe's Hill" in Warwickshire and "Joe's Wood" in Nottinghamshire. These place names may have derived from individuals bearing the surname or could have influenced the adoption of the surname in those regions.

Overall, the surname "Joe" has a long and rich history, tracing its origins back to the medieval period in England. Its connection to the personal name "Joseph" and its evolution as a patronymic surname have contributed to its enduring presence across generations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Joe

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

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

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

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