Metcalfe
An English occupational surname referring to a person who worked with or bred calves or cattle.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,484 Americans carry the last name Metcalfe. That puts it at #7,086 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.60 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 62,501 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Metcalfe surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
5.5K
1 in 62,501
Census rank
#7,086
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,725 bearers of the surname Metcalfe in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.60 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7086th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Metcalfe, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.8%. The next largest groups are Black (7.9%) and Hispanic (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Metcalfe
The surname Metcalfe originates from the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire, and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "mete" meaning food or provisions, and "calf" referring to a small island or dry area of land surrounded by marsh or streams. This suggests that the name may have been an occupational name for someone who kept food stores or cattle on such a dry patch of land.
The earliest known record of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Metcalfe". Other early spellings include Metcalf, Medcalfe, and Metcalf. The name is believed to have originated in the area around the village of Nidderdale in North Yorkshire, which was once part of a larger region known as Metcalfe.
In the 13th century, a Richard Metcalfe is mentioned in the Records of the Borough of Nottingham, indicating the name's presence in that area. Another early bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Metcalfe (c.1390-1472), a member of the English gentry from Yorkshire who served as a Member of Parliament.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Metcalfe family became established in various parts of England, including Lancashire, Westmorland, and Northumberland. Notable individuals from this period include Sir John Metcalfe (c.1525-1615), a prominent merchant and Member of Parliament, and Roger Metcalfe (1592-1672), an English clergyman and author.
In the 18th century, Charles Metcalfe (1785-1846) was a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor-General of India from 1835 to 1836. Another notable figure was John Metcalfe (1717-1810), a British soldier and colonial governor of Fort St. George in Madras, India.
The 19th century saw the birth of several distinguished individuals with the surname Metcalfe, including Charles Theophilus Metcalfe (1785-1856), a British colonial administrator and Governor of Jamaica, and Sir Courtney Metcalfe (1843-1933), a British army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valor in the British armed forces.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Metcalfe
Among Census respondents with the surname Metcalfe, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.8%. The next largest groups are Black (7.9%) and Hispanic (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Metcalfe bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Metcalfe surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.8%
- Black or African American7.9%
- Hispanic or Latino3.0%
- Two or more races2.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Metcalfe surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,935 | #7,086 | -2.2% |
| Count | 4,461 | 4,725 | 5.9% |
| Per 100K | 1.65 | 1.60 | -3.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Metcalfe bearers went from 4,461 to 4,725 (+5.9% change). The surname moved down 151 positions in the national ranking, going from #6,935 to #7,086.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Metcalfe
FAQ
Metcalfe surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Metcalfe?
The surname Metcalfe holds position #7,086 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,484 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.60 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Metcalfe surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Metcalfe, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.8%. The next largest groups are Black (7.9%) and Hispanic (3.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.