Stack
An occupational surname referring to a person who lives near or works with haystacks or stacks of grain.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 13,916 Americans carry the last name Stack. That puts it at #2,996 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 24,630 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Stack 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
14K
1 in 24,630
Census rank
#2,996
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
12K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 11,967 bearers of the surname Stack in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2996th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Stack, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Black (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Stack
The surname STACK is of English origin, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "stac", which means a stack or pile, referring to a person who lived near a prominent stack or pile of something, such as hay or wood.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname STACK can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire and the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, both from the late 12th century. These records include references to individuals with the surnames "de la Stache" and "atte Stake".
One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname STACK was William atte Stake, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. Another early bearer of the name was John del Stak, recorded in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332.
In the 15th century, the surname STACK appeared in various spellings, such as "Stacke", "Stacey", and "Stacye", reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that period. One notable individual from this time was John Stacye, who was born in Somerset around 1450 and served as a member of the English Parliament.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname STACK spread across England, and several notable individuals bore this name. One example is Richard Stack, a merchant and alderman who lived in London in the late 16th century. Another is Thomas Stacke, a prominent landowner and member of the gentry from Northamptonshire, who was born in 1567.
In the 18th century, the surname STACK continued to be prominent in various parts of England. One noteworthy individual was John Stack, a successful businessman and entrepreneur from Bristol, who was born in 1712 and became a prominent figure in the city's trade and commerce.
As the surname STACK spread to other parts of the world, it gained recognition in various fields. One notable bearer of the name was Sir Joseph Stack, an Irish-born British diplomat and military officer who served as the Governor of Bombay from 1799 to 1807. He played a significant role in the British East India Company's expansion in India.
Another prominent individual with the surname STACK was Sir Lee Stack, a British colonial administrator and diplomat who served in various roles in the Middle East in the early 20th century. He was assassinated in 1924 while serving as the Governor of British Somaliland.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Stack
Among Census respondents with the surname Stack, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Black (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Stack 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 Stack surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.8%
- Black or African American1.8%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Stack 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,810 | #2,996 | -6.6% |
| Count | 11,701 | 11,967 | 2.3% |
| Per 100K | 4.34 | 4.06 | -6.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Stack bearers went from 11,701 to 11,967 (+2.3% change). The surname moved down 186 positions in the national ranking, going from #2,810 to #2,996.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Stack
FAQ
Stack surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Stack?
The surname Stack holds position #2,996 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 13,916 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 4.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Stack surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Stack, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Black (1.8%). 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.