2000
#1,399
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 23,221
First available Census row
Per 100,000 8.61
Uncommon Last name
Lord
A hereditary title of nobility, potentially derived from the Old English word "hlaford" meaning "keeper of bread."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 25,788 Americans carry the last name Lord. That puts it at #1,560 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 7.52 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 13,291 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lord 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Lord with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
26K
1 in 13,291
Census rank
#1,560
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
7.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
22K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 22,488 bearers of the surname Lord in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 7.52 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1560th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lord, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.7%. The next largest groups are Black (5.4%) and Hispanic (4.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lord
The surname Lord originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English word "hlaford," which meant "master" or "ruler." This term was used to refer to those in positions of authority, such as feudal lords or landowners.
In the early days of surname adoption, Lord was often used as a descriptive name for individuals who held a position of power or owned significant property. It was not necessarily a hereditary title but rather a reflection of the person's status or occupation.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lord can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and estates commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Several individuals with the surname Lord are mentioned in this historical document, indicating the name's presence in various parts of England.
During the medieval period, the spelling of the name varied, with variations such as Lorde, Loord, and Lourde being common. These variations were likely influenced by local dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.
One notable figure bearing the surname Lord was Sir Thomas Lord (1558-1624), a successful merchant and landowner in England. He is best known for founding the famous Lord's Cricket Ground in London, which has become a iconic venue for cricket matches.
Another prominent individual with the surname Lord was Benjamin Lord (1693-1784), an American printer and publisher who played a significant role in the early days of the American Revolution. He published several influential pamphlets and newspapers that supported the patriot cause.
In the literary world, Gabrielle Lord (born 1946) is a renowned Australian author known for her crime fiction and children's books. Her works have gained critical acclaim and have been translated into numerous languages.
Thomas Lord (1755-1832), an English cricketer and businessman, was instrumental in establishing the modern form of the sport. He founded the Lord's Cricket Ground in London, which became a renowned venue for cricket matches and continues to host major international events.
Lastly, Walter Lord (1917-2002) was an American author and historian best known for his non-fiction works related to World War II, including "A Night to Remember," a bestselling account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the surname Lord, reflecting its long-standing presence and the diverse backgrounds of those who bear this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lord
Among Census respondents with the surname Lord, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.7%. The next largest groups are Black (5.4%) and Hispanic (4.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Lord 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 Lord surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.7% · 19,052
- Black or African American5.4% · 1,219
- Hispanic or Latino4.0% · 902
- Two or more races4.0% · 890
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.3% · 296
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6% · 129
Timeline
Historical Census data for Lord
Lord 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
#1,535
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 23,405
+184 bearers (+0.8%)
Per 100,000 7.93
Rank movement Down 136 places
2020
#1,560
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 22,488
-917 bearers (-3.9%)
Per 100,000 7.52
Rank movement Down 25 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #1,399 | 23,221 | 8.61 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #1,535 | 23,405 | 7.93 | +184 bearers (+0.8%) | Down 136 places |
| 2020 | #1,560 | 22,488 | 7.52 | -917 bearers (-3.9%) | Down 25 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 Lord 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 | #1,535 | #1,560 | -1.6% |
| Count | 23,405 | 22,488 | -3.9% |
| Per 100K | 7.93 | 7.52 | -5.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Lord bearers went from 23,405 to 22,488 (-3.9% change). The surname moved down 25 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,535 to #1,560.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Lord
FAQ
Lord surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Lord?
Name Census estimates that about 25,788 living Americans carry the surname Lord. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 13,291 residents.
How common is Lord?
Lord ranks #1,560 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 7.52 per 100,000 residents, which is about 8 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 22,488 people with the surname Lord. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (25,788), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 7.52 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 7.52 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 8 of them to have the surname Lord.
Has Lord become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Lord went from 23,405 recorded bearers to 22,488. That is a decrease of 917 (-3.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #1,535 to #1,560.
What does the Census say about the background of Lord?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lord, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.7%. The next largest groups are Black (5.4%) and Hispanic (4.0%). 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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Lord in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.7% (19,052 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Lord appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (84.7%), Black (5.4%), Hispanic (4.0%). 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 Lord (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 Lord mean?
A hereditary title of nobility, potentially derived from the Old English word "hlaford" meaning "keeper of bread." 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 Lord (7.52 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 Lord?
For a quick modern take, check how common the surname Lord is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.