Find out how popular the last name Noble is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Noble.

Noble, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Noble surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Noble in America

Noble is the 829th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Noble surname appeared 41,667 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 14 people would have the surname Noble.

We can also compare 2010 data for Noble to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Noble

The surname Noble originated in France and England during the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old French and Anglo-Norman words "noble" and "nobile," meaning someone of noble birth, high rank, or superior character. The name was initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone who exhibited these qualities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Noble can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Ricardus le Noble in Suffolk.

In the 12th century, the name Noble appeared in various records across England and France. For example, a Norman noble named Richard le Noble was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1166. Another notable bearer of the name was Sir John Noble, who served as a knight and ambassador for King Edward III of England in the 14th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Noble surname was also associated with various places in England, such as Noble's Green in Hertfordshire and Noble's Park in Wiltshire. These place names may have contributed to the surname's spread and regional variations in spelling, including Nobyll, Nobell, and Nobble.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Noble surname in Scotland dates back to the 15th century, with the mention of John Noble of Ferme in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1456. Another notable Scottish bearer of the name was Andrew Noble, a prominent minister and theologian born in 1632.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Noble surname, including:

1. Michael Noble (1618-1684), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.
2. John Noble (1725-1807), an American soldier and political leader who served as a brigadier general during the American Revolutionary War.
3. Alfred Noble (1844-1914), a Swedish engineer and industrialist who founded the Nobel Prize and invented dynamite.
4. John Willock Noble (1831-1912), an American politician who served as the Secretary of the Interior under President Benjamin Harrison.
5. Michael Noble (1944-1995), an American actor best known for his roles in films such as Dances with Wolves and Thunderheart.

The surname Noble has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by individuals from various backgrounds, including nobility, clergy, scientists, politicians, and entertainers. Its origins and meaning reflect the aspirations and qualities associated with nobility and high moral character.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Noble

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Noble.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Noble was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Noble has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Noble was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Noble, please contact us.

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