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

Packard, 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 Packard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Packard in America

Packard is the 3733rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Packard surname appeared 9,494 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Packard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Packard 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 Packard

The surname Packard originated in England and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Old English word "packer," which referred to someone who packed goods or merchandise for transportation. The name was likely an occupational surname given to people who worked as packers or porters.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Packard surname is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a William le Pakkere is listed. The use of the prefix "le" before the surname indicates the French influence on English surnames during the Norman Conquest.

In the 15th century, the Packard surname appeared in various spellings, such as Pakkard, Packarde, and Paccarde, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that time period. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Worcestershire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire.

The Packard surname is also associated with several place names in England, including Packard's Green in Staffordshire and Packard's Nook in Derbyshire. These place names likely originated from individuals with the Packard surname who resided in or owned land in those areas.

Notable individuals with the Packard surname throughout history include:

1. Sir John Packard (c. 1540-1624), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Aylesbury.
2. Samuel Packard (1592-1684), an early American colonist who settled in Massachusetts in the 1630s.
3. Alpheus Packard (1798-1884), an American educator and founder of the Packard Institute in New York.
4. David Packard (1912-1996), co-founder of the Hewlett-Packard Company, a leading technology company.
5. Vance Packard (1914-1996), an American social critic and author known for his works on consumerism and corporate culture.

The Packard surname has a rich history rooted in the occupational and geographical origins of England. While its earliest recorded instances date back to the 14th century, the name has since spread globally and is associated with notable individuals across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Packard

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

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

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

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