Mix
An occupational surname referring to a person who mixed ingredients, such as a baker or pharmacist.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,204 Americans carry the last name Mix. That puts it at #6,370 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.81 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 55,247 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mix 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
6.2K
1 in 55,247
Census rank
#6,370
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,344 bearers of the surname Mix in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.81 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6370th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mix, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Black (10.4%) and Hispanic (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mix
The surname MIX has its origins in the German and English languages. It is believed to have originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe during the Middle Ages, potentially as early as the 12th century.
In Germany, the name MIX may have derived from the Old German word "misken," meaning "to mix" or "to blend." This suggests that the name could have been initially associated with occupations related to mixing, such as bakers, brewers, or apothecaries. Alternatively, it may have been used as a descriptive surname for individuals who mixed different substances or materials in their trade.
As the name spread across Europe, it likely underwent various spelling variations, including Myx, Mixe, and Myxe. These variations were common due to inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional dialects during the medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MIX can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname may have migrated to England from the German regions during the Norman Conquest or shortly thereafter.
Notable historical figures with the surname MIX include Johann Martin Mix (1647-1725), a German theologian and author, and Johann Georg Mix (1715-1790), a German mathematician and astronomer. In England, Sir Thomas Mix (1532-1589) was a prominent politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
The name MIX also appears in records related to the colonization of North America. One example is John Mix (1607-1685), an early settler in New Haven, Connecticut, who arrived from England in the 1630s. Another notable figure was Samuel Mix (1774-1828), an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New York.
During the 19th century, the surname MIX gained prominence in various fields. Marcus Mix (1805-1893) was an American industrialist and inventor, known for developing early forms of agricultural machinery. William Mix (1856-1926) was a prominent American architect who designed several notable buildings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
As the centuries passed, individuals bearing the surname MIX continued to contribute to various aspects of society, including science, literature, and the arts. However, the name's origins can be traced back to the Germanic regions of Europe, where it likely emerged as a descriptive or occupational surname during the Middle Ages.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mix
Among Census respondents with the surname Mix, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Black (10.4%) and Hispanic (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Mix 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 Mix surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.8%
- Black or African American10.4%
- Hispanic or Latino3.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.8%
- Two or more races2.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mix 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 | #5,472 | #6,370 | -16.4% |
| Count | 5,841 | 5,344 | -8.5% |
| Per 100K | 2.17 | 1.81 | -16.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mix bearers went from 5,841 to 5,344 (-8.5% change). The surname moved down 898 positions in the national ranking, going from #5,472 to #6,370.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mix
FAQ
Mix surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mix?
The surname Mix holds position #6,370 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 6,204 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.81 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mix surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mix, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Black (10.4%) 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.