2000
#147,095
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Nercessian
Armenian surname derived from the name Nerses.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 136 Americans carry the last name Nercessian. That puts it at #142,788 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,520,252 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Nercessian 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
136
1 in 2,520,252
Census rank
#142,788
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
119
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 119 bearers of the surname Nercessian in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142788th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Nercessian, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Nercessian
The surname Nercessian originates from Armenia, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Armenian name Nerse, which means "rose" or "tender." This name was commonly used in ancient Armenia and was particularly popular among the noble families of the time.
The earliest recorded instances of the Nercessian surname can be found in various Armenian manuscripts and church records from the 13th to 15th centuries. One notable example is the Nercessian family mentioned in the chronicles of the Vaspurakan region, where they were landowners and prominent figures in the local community.
During the Ottoman Empire's rule over Armenia, many Armenians were forced to flee their homeland, resulting in the dispersal of the Nercessian family across various regions. Some settled in neighboring countries like Iran and Russia, while others made their way to Europe and the Americas.
One of the earliest recorded Nercessians was Hovhannes Nercessian, a renowned Armenian scholar and physician who lived in the 17th century. He made significant contributions to the fields of medicine and philosophy, and his works are still studied and revered in Armenia today.
Another notable figure with the Nercessian surname was Khachatur Nercessian, a prominent Armenian writer and poet who lived in the late 19th century. He played a crucial role in the Armenian literary renaissance and was known for his powerful works that celebrated Armenian culture and identity.
In the 20th century, the Nercessian family continued to make its mark in various fields. Harutyun Nercessian was a renowned Armenian architect who designed several iconic buildings in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. His works are considered masterpieces of Armenian architecture and have left a lasting legacy.
Aram Nercessian, born in 1916, was a celebrated Armenian artist known for his intricate and vibrant paintings that captured the beauty of Armenian landscapes and traditions. His works have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential Armenian artists of the 20th century.
Additionally, Vahan Nercessian, who lived from 1924 to 2001, was a prominent Armenian-American engineer and inventor. He made significant contributions to the field of aeronautics and held several patents for his innovative designs and technologies.
These are just a few examples of the notable individuals who have carried the Nercessian surname throughout history, each making their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural heritage of Armenia and the Armenian diaspora.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Nercessian
Among Census respondents with the surname Nercessian, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Nercessian 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 Nercessian surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.2% · 105
- Hispanic or Latino6.7% · 8
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.4% · 4
- Black or African American0.8% · 1
- Two or more races0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Nercessian
Nercessian 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
#140,157
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
+16 bearers (+15.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 6,938 places
2020
#142,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
+0 bearers (+0.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 2,631 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #147,095 | 103 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #140,157 | 119 | 0.04 | +16 bearers (+15.5%) | Up 6,938 places |
| 2020 | #142,788 | 119 | 0.04 | +0 bearers (+0.0%) | Down 2,631 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 Nercessian 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 | #140,157 | #142,788 | -1.9% |
| Count | 119 | 119 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -0.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Nercessian bearers went from 119 to 119 (+0.0% change). The surname moved down 2,631 positions in the national ranking, going from #140,157 to #142,788.
FAQ
Nercessian surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Nercessian?
Name Census estimates that about 136 living Americans carry the surname Nercessian. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,520,252 residents.
How common is Nercessian?
Nercessian ranks #142,788 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 119 people with the surname Nercessian. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (136), 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 Nercessian.
Has Nercessian become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Nercessian went from 119 recorded bearers to 119. That is an increase of 0 (+0.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #140,157 to #142,788.
What does the Census say about the background of Nercessian?
Among Census respondents with the surname Nercessian, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.4%). 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 Nercessian in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.2% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Nercessian appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.2%), Hispanic (6.7%), Asian/Pacific Islander (3.4%). 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 Nercessian (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 Nercessian mean?
Armenian surname derived from the name Nerses. 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 Nercessian (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 are called Nercessian?
See how many Americans have the surname Nercessian on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.