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

Queen, 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 Queen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Queen in America

Queen is the 1945th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Queen surname appeared 18,557 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Queen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Queen 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 Queen

The surname Queen is an English occupational name derived from the Old English word "cwen" or "cwene," meaning a woman of high rank or the wife of a king. It is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period, around the 5th to 11th centuries.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Queen can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is mentioned in various forms, such as "Quene" and "Cwen," suggesting its long-standing presence in the region.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Queen was often associated with individuals who held positions of authority or served in royal households. One notable example is Walter Queen, who lived in the 13th century and served as a royal falconer under King Edward I of England.

As the surname spread across England, it also took on variations in spelling, including Queene, Quene, and Quine. These variations were likely influenced by local dialects and scribal practices of the time. Additionally, some variations of the name, such as Queen's and Queenborough, were derived from place names that incorporated the word "queen."

One prominent figure bearing the surname Queen was Walter Queen, a 14th-century English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. He was born around 1320 and gained recognition for his valor during the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

In the 16th century, the name Queen gained further prominence with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, who ruled from 1558 to 1603. During her reign, the name became closely associated with royalty and prestige, further solidifying its place in English history.

Another notable individual with the surname Queen was John Queen, a 17th-century English clergyman and author. Born in 1609, he served as the Rector of Thurcaston in Leicestershire and published several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the New Testament" in 1670.

As the surname Queen spread across the English-speaking world, it also found its way to other countries, such as the United States and Canada, where it continued to be used by families of English descent. Some notable Americans with the surname include William Queen, a Revolutionary War soldier born in 1753, and James Queen, a 19th-century politician and judge in Illinois.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Queen

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

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

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

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