2000
#6,111
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 5,172
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.92
Rare Last name
Rick
Derived from the Old English pre-7th century name "Ric" meaning "power" or "ruler."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,597 Americans carry the last name Rick. That puts it at #7,938 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.34 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 74,560 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rick surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Rick with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
4.6K
1 in 74,560
Census rank
#7,938
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,009 bearers of the surname Rick in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.34 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7938th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rick, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.9%) and Two or More Races (3.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rick
The surname RICK is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "ric" or "rice," which translate to "powerful" or "wealthy." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who held a prominent social or economic status within their communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the RICK surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "le Ric." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, served as a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation across England.
During the Middle Ages, variations of the RICK surname began to emerge, such as Ricke, Rike, and Ryke. These spellings were often influenced by regional dialects and the individual preferences of those bearing the name.
In the 16th century, a notable figure with the RICK surname was Sir Ralph Rike (1515-1587), who served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. His achievements and service to the Crown likely contributed to the prominence of the name during that period.
Another significant figure was Richard Rick (1590-1667), an English clergyman and academic who held the position of Provost at Eton College. His contributions to education and theology further solidified the RICK name within the realms of scholarship and religious life.
The RICK surname also found its way into literary works, such as in the writings of the renowned English poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616). In his play "The Merry Wives of Windsor," one of the characters is referred to as "Mistress Quickly," which some scholars believe may have been a variation of the RICK surname.
During the 18th century, the RICK surname gained prominence in the United States, with notable figures such as Benjamin Rick (1732-1812), a soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. His service and sacrifice further added to the historical significance of the name.
Another notable American with the RICK surname was James Rick (1798-1876), a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Pennsylvania. His contributions to industry and charitable causes left a lasting impact on the communities in which he lived and worked.
As the centuries progressed, the RICK surname continued to spread across various regions and countries, with individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts. While the specific origins and meanings may have evolved over time, the RICK surname remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of names throughout the ages.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rick
Among Census respondents with the surname Rick, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.9%) and Two or More Races (3.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Rick bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Rick surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.8% · 3,559
- Hispanic or Latino3.9% · 157
- Two or more races3.1% · 125
- Black or African American2.7% · 109
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0% · 41
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 18
Timeline
Historical Census data for Rick
Rick appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#7,258
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,591
-581 bearers (-11.2%)
Per 100,000 1.56
Rank movement Down 1,147 places
2020
#7,938
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,009
-582 bearers (-12.7%)
Per 100,000 1.34
Rank movement Down 680 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #6,111 | 5,172 | 1.92 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #7,258 | 4,591 | 1.56 | -581 bearers (-11.2%) | Down 1,147 places |
| 2020 | #7,938 | 4,009 | 1.34 | -582 bearers (-12.7%) | Down 680 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Rick surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,258 | #7,938 | -9.4% |
| Count | 4,591 | 4,009 | -12.7% |
| Per 100K | 1.56 | 1.34 | -14.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Rick bearers went from 4,591 to 4,009 (-12.7% change). The surname moved down 680 positions in the national ranking, going from #7,258 to #7,938.
FAQ
Rick surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Rick?
Name Census estimates that about 4,597 living Americans carry the surname Rick. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 74,560 residents.
How common is Rick?
Rick ranks #7,938 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.34 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 4,009 people with the surname Rick. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (4,597), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.34 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.34 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Rick.
Has Rick become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Rick went from 4,591 recorded bearers to 4,009. That is a decrease of 582 (-12.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #7,258 to #7,938.
What does the Census say about the background of Rick?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rick, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.9%) and Two or More Races (3.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Rick in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.8% (3,559 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Rick appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.8%), Hispanic (3.9%), Two or More Races (3.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Rick (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Rick mean?
Derived from the Old English pre-7th century name "Ric" meaning "power" or "ruler." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Rick (1.34 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Rick?
For a quick modern take, check how common the surname Rick is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.