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

Opie, 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 Opie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Opie in America

Opie is the 25601st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Opie surname appeared 964 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Opie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Opie 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 Opie

The surname Opie originates from England and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "op" or "opp," meaning "dweller at the top" or "higher up." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to individuals who lived in elevated or hilly areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Opie can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Opi." This historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across England at that time.

During the Middle Ages, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Oppy, Oppey, and Opy. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the era.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Opie surname was John Opie (1761-1807), a renowned English portrait painter. He was born in Cornwall and gained recognition for his artistic talents, becoming a member of the Royal Academy in 1787.

Another prominent individual with the Opie surname was Amelia Opie (1769-1853), an English author and poet. She was born in Norwich and is best known for her novel "Adeline Mowbray," which explored themes of feminism and women's rights.

In the 19th century, Robert Opie (1835-1910) made significant contributions to the field of education. Born in Somerset, he served as the headmaster of various schools and became known for his progressive teaching methods.

The Opie surname can also be associated with certain place names in England, such as Opie Hill in Dorset and Opie Street in Norwich. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Throughout history, the Opie surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, authors, educators, and others who have left their mark on society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Opie

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

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 Opie 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 Opie 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 Opie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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