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

Profit, 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 Profit surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Profit in America

Profit is the 17182nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Profit surname appeared 1,648 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Profit.

We can also compare 2010 data for Profit 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 Profit

The surname Profit is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the late 13th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "prou-fit," meaning "benefit" or "advantage." It likely originated as an occupational name for someone who engaged in profitable or lucrative activities.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Profit appears in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273, where it is listed as "Profyt." This document is a valuable source for studying the distribution of surnames in medieval England.

During the 14th century, the Profit surname began to appear more frequently in various historical records, such as the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where it is spelled "Profyte." This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that period.

One notable historical figure with the Profit surname was John Profit, a merchant and alderman of London who lived in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in the Repertories of the Court of Aldermen, a collection of records documenting the proceedings of the City of London's governing body.

In the 16th century, the Profit surname gained prominence in the county of Gloucestershire, where it was closely associated with the village of Naunton. Thomas Profit (1532-1593), a wealthy landowner and benefactor from Naunton, left a significant legacy in the form of a charitable trust that still exists today.

Another notable individual with the Profit surname was William Profit (1629-1705), a prominent Quaker minister and writer from Yorkshire. He authored several religious works and was a influential figure in the early Quaker movement.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Profit surname spread across various parts of England, with concentrations in counties such as Gloucestershire, Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire. The name is also found in historical records from this period, such as parish registers and tax records.

Other notable individuals with the Profit surname include John Profit (1776-1858), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and Robert Profit (1813-1891), a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Lancashire.

Overall, the surname Profit has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, where it originated as an occupational name. Its evolution and spread across various regions of the country have contributed to its enduring presence in the English surname landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Profit

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

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

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

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