Organ
An occupational surname for a person who played the organ or made musical instruments.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,811 Americans carry the last name Organ. That puts it at #12,696 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.82 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 121,933 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Organ 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
2.8K
1 in 121,933
Census rank
#12,696
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,431 bearers of the surname Organ in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.82 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12696th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Organ, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.0%. The next largest groups are Black (10.0%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Organ
The surname Organ is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "organan," which means "organ player" or "musician." This suggests that the name was initially given as an occupational surname to someone who played the organ or was a musician by trade.
One of the earliest known records of the Organ surname dates back to the 13th century in the county of Oxfordshire. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 mentions a Walter le Organer, indicating that he was a member of the organ-playing profession.
During the 16th century, the Organ surname appeared in various parish records across England. For instance, the baptism of John Organ was recorded in the parish of St. Sepulchre, London, in 1567. Additionally, the marriage of Richard Organ and Alice Coxe was documented in the parish of Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire, in 1591.
Notably, the Organ surname can also be traced back to the village of Orgreave in South Yorkshire. This place name, which was originally spelled as "Orgrave" in the Domesday Book of 1086, likely contributed to the surname's development in that region.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the Organ surname was William Organ (c. 1635-1712), an English composer and organist who served as the Master of the Choristers at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford.
Another prominent figure was John Organ (1585-1638), an English poet and clergyman who held the position of Archdeacon of Suffolk and Prebendary of Ely Cathedral.
In the 18th century, John Organ (1726-1788) was a renowned English clockmaker and watchmaker who worked in London and contributed significantly to the development of precision timekeeping devices.
Moving into the 19th century, Edward Organ (1801-1858) was a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the former Lambeth Bridge.
Additionally, James Organ (1835-1888) was a British artist and painter known for his landscapes and genre scenes depicting rural life in England.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Organ surname throughout history, highlighting its English origins and potential occupational roots in the musical or ecclesiastical fields.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Organ
Among Census respondents with the surname Organ, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.0%. The next largest groups are Black (10.0%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Organ 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 Organ surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.0%
- Black or African American10.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races2.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Organ 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 | #13,181 | #12,696 | 3.7% |
| Count | 2,125 | 2,431 | 14.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.79 | 0.82 | 3.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Organ bearers went from 2,125 to 2,431 (+14.4% change). The surname moved up 485 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,181 to #12,696.
FAQ
Organ surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Organ?
The surname Organ holds position #12,696 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,811 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.82 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Organ surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Organ, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.0%. The next largest groups are Black (10.0%) and Hispanic (2.5%). 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.