2000
#10,483
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,810
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.04
Rare Last name
Littles
Derived from a nickname for a person of small stature or from various place names meaning "little."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,479 Americans carry the last name Littles. That puts it at #10,125 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.02 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 98,521 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Littles 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
3.5K
1 in 98,521
Census rank
#10,125
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,034 bearers of the surname Littles in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.02 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 10125th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Littles, the largest self-reported group is Black at 73.7%. The next largest groups are White (16.4%) and Two or More Races (5.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Littles
The surname Littles is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "lytel," meaning small or little. This name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone of small stature or a younger sibling to distinguish them from others.
The earliest recorded instance of the Littles surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Littel." This comprehensive survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, documented landholders and their properties across England.
During the Middle Ages, the Littles surname was prevalent in various regions of England, particularly in counties such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. It is believed that the name may have originated from place names like Little Hampton or Little Tey, where families bearing the surname resided.
One notable figure from history with the Littles surname was William Littles, a merchant and alderman who lived in London during the 15th century (c. 1420-1489). He was a prominent figure in the city's trade and political circles.
Another significant individual was Sir John Littles, a military commander who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War (c. 1310-1375). He was knighted for his bravery and distinguished service on the battlefield.
In the 16th century, the Littles surname gained further recognition with the birth of Richard Littles (c. 1530-1604), a renowned English playwright and poet. His works, which included plays and sonnets, contributed to the literary landscape of the Elizabethan era.
During the 17th century, the Littles surname was associated with the colonization of North America. One notable figure was Robert Littles (c. 1620-1690), a Puritan settler who arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and became a prominent landowner and community leader.
Another significant individual from this period was Mary Littles (c. 1635-1707), an influential Quaker minister and writer. She traveled extensively, preaching and advocating for religious tolerance and social reforms.
As the centuries passed, the Littles surname continued to be represented in various fields, including academia, politics, and the arts. The name's rich history and diverse origins have contributed to its enduring presence across generations and geographical boundaries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Littles
Among Census respondents with the surname Littles, the largest self-reported group is Black at 73.7%. The next largest groups are White (16.4%) and Two or More Races (5.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Littles 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 Littles surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American73.7% · 2,235
- White16.4% · 498
- Two or more races5.3% · 160
- Hispanic or Latino3.8% · 114
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 14
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 13
Timeline
Historical Census data for Littles
Littles 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
#9,998
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,224
+414 bearers (+14.7%)
Per 100,000 1.09
Rank movement Up 485 places
2020
#10,125
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,034
-190 bearers (-5.9%)
Per 100,000 1.02
Rank movement Down 127 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #10,483 | 2,810 | 1.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #9,998 | 3,224 | 1.09 | +414 bearers (+14.7%) | Up 485 places |
| 2020 | #10,125 | 3,034 | 1.02 | -190 bearers (-5.9%) | Down 127 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 Littles 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 | #9,998 | #10,125 | -1.3% |
| Count | 3,224 | 3,034 | -5.9% |
| Per 100K | 1.09 | 1.02 | -6.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Littles bearers went from 3,224 to 3,034 (-5.9% change). The surname moved down 127 positions in the national ranking, going from #9,998 to #10,125.
FAQ
Littles surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Littles?
Name Census estimates that about 3,479 living Americans carry the surname Littles. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 98,521 residents.
How common is Littles?
Littles ranks #10,125 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.02 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 3,034 people with the surname Littles. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,479), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.02 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.02 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 Littles.
Has Littles become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Littles went from 3,224 recorded bearers to 3,034. That is a decrease of 190 (-5.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #9,998 to #10,125.
What does the Census say about the background of Littles?
Among Census respondents with the surname Littles, the largest self-reported group is Black at 73.7%. The next largest groups are White (16.4%) and Two or More Races (5.3%). 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 Littles in the 2020 Census, accounting for 73.7% (2,235 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Littles appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (73.7%), White (16.4%), Two or More Races (5.3%). 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 Littles (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 Littles mean?
Derived from a nickname for a person of small stature or from various place names meaning "little." 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 Littles (1.02 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 common is the surname Littles?
Want to know how many Americans have the surname Littles? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.