2000
#134,929
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Margossian
An Armenian surname meaning "son of a craftsman" or "son of a skilled worker."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 133 Americans carry the last name Margossian. That puts it at #145,028 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,577,100 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Margossian 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
133
1 in 2,577,100
Census rank
#145,028
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
116
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 116 bearers of the surname Margossian in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145028th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Margossian, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.4%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Margossian
The surname MARGOSSIAN is of Armenian origin, tracing its roots back to the ancient region of Armenia, situated in the Caucasus region between Europe and Asia. This name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, likely in the 10th or 11th century.
MARGOSSIAN is derived from the Armenian word "marg," which means "field" or "meadow." It is believed to have been an occupational surname initially given to individuals who worked in fields or meadows, possibly farmers or agricultural workers. Over time, it became a hereditary surname passed down through generations.
While there are no definitive records of the earliest known bearers of the MARGOSSIAN surname, it is likely that the name first appeared in historical documents or records from the medieval Armenian kingdoms or principalities that existed during that time period. The name may have been recorded in monastic or church records, as well as in legal documents or property deeds.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname MARGOSSIAN was Hovhannes Margossian, a prominent Armenian scholar and theologian who lived in the 13th century. He was known for his contributions to the study of Armenian literature and his translations of various works into the Armenian language.
Another notable figure was Karapet Margossian, an Armenian merchant and trader who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his extensive trade networks and his role in facilitating the exchange of goods between Armenia and neighboring regions.
In the 18th century, Avetis Margossian was a renowned Armenian calligrapher and manuscript illuminator. His exquisite work can be found in various manuscripts and religious texts from that era, showcasing the rich artistic traditions of the Armenian people.
During the 19th century, Petros Margossian was a influential Armenian educator and writer. He established several schools and educational institutions in various Armenian communities, contributing to the preservation and promotion of Armenian language and culture.
Another notable figure from the 19th century was Harutyun Margossian, a prominent Armenian revolutionary and activist. He played a significant role in the Armenian national liberation movement, advocating for the rights and independence of the Armenian people.
Over the centuries, the MARGOSSIAN surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, merchants, and political figures. While the name may have evolved or been spelled slightly differently in different regions or time periods, its Armenian roots and connection to the land and agricultural heritage remain a significant part of its history and meaning.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Margossian
Among Census respondents with the surname Margossian, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.4%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Margossian 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 Margossian surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.2% · 107
- Two or more races3.4% · 4
- Hispanic or Latino2.6% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Margossian
Margossian 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
#123,796
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 139
+24 bearers (+20.9%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 11,133 places
2020
#145,028
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
-23 bearers (-16.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 21,232 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #134,929 | 115 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #123,796 | 139 | 0.05 | +24 bearers (+20.9%) | Up 11,133 places |
| 2020 | #145,028 | 116 | 0.04 | -23 bearers (-16.5%) | Down 21,232 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 Margossian 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 | #123,796 | #145,028 | -17.2% |
| Count | 139 | 116 | -16.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -22.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Margossian bearers went from 139 to 116 (-16.5% change). The surname moved down 21,232 positions in the national ranking, going from #123,796 to #145,028.
FAQ
Margossian surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Margossian?
Name Census estimates that about 133 living Americans carry the surname Margossian. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,577,100 residents.
How common is Margossian?
Margossian ranks #145,028 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 116 people with the surname Margossian. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (133), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Margossian.
Has Margossian become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Margossian went from 139 recorded bearers to 116. That is a decrease of 23 (-16.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #123,796 to #145,028.
What does the Census say about the background of Margossian?
Among Census respondents with the surname Margossian, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.4%) and Hispanic (2.6%). 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 Margossian in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.2% (107 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Margossian appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.2%), Two or More Races (3.4%), Hispanic (2.6%). 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 Margossian (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 Margossian mean?
An Armenian surname meaning "son of a craftsman" or "son of a skilled worker." 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 Margossian (0.04 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 people share the surname Margossian?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.