Space
An English locational surname indicating the person came from an open area.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,165 Americans carry the last name Space. That puts it at #25,037 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.34 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 294,210 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Space 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
1.2K
1 in 294,210
Census rank
#25,037
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
992
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 992 bearers of the surname Space in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.34 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 25037th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Space, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.5%. The next largest groups are Black (13.1%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Space
The surname "Space" is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 16th century. It is derived from the Old English word "spaec," which means "patch of land" or "clearing." This name likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived on or near an open space or clearing in a forested area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Astbury, Cheshire, England, where a Richard Space was mentioned in 1593. In the 17th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as "Spache" and "Spatch" in various records from counties like Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
The Domesday Book, a detailed survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname "Space." However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the development of the surname, such as "Spachestone" (now known as Spachtown) in Leicestershire.
One notable bearer of the name was John Space (1628-1703), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Bocking in Essex. Another was William Space (1723-1795), a prominent London merchant and philanthropist who supported various charitable causes during his lifetime.
In the 19th century, the name gained some prominence with individuals like Thomas Space (1818-1892), a successful businessman and industrialist from Birmingham, and Elizabeth Space (1842-1920), a renowned educator and advocate for women's rights who founded the Space Academy for Girls in London.
Other notable individuals with the surname "Space" include Joseph Space (1879-1942), a British explorer who led expeditions to the Arctic regions, and Emily Space (1907-1989), an acclaimed American novelist and playwright whose works explored themes of social injustice and racial inequality.
While the surname "Space" is not among the most common surnames globally, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Space
Among Census respondents with the surname Space, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.5%. The next largest groups are Black (13.1%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Space 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 Space surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White82.5%
- Black or African American13.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.1%
- Two or more races1.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Space 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,037 | #25,037 | 0.0% |
| Count | 992 | 992 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.34 | 0.34 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Space bearers went from 992 to 992 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #25,037 to #25,037.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Space
FAQ
Space surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Space?
The surname Space holds position #25,037 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,165 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.34 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Space surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Space, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.5%. The next largest groups are Black (13.1%) and Hispanic (2.1%). 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.