2000
#142,819
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Usko
A surname of Slavic origin likely meaning "small mouth" or "little mouth".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 134 Americans carry the last name Usko. That puts it at #144,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,557,868 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Usko 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.
Bearers in the US
134
1 in 2,557,868
Census rank
#144,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Usko in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Usko, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Usko
The surname Usko is of Finnish origin, dating back to the late medieval period in the region of modern-day Finland. It is believed to be derived from the Finnish word "usko," which translates to "faith" or "belief." This suggests that the name may have originally been given to individuals who were known for their strong religious convictions or perhaps those who played a significant role in the spread of Christianity in the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Usko surname can be found in the Finnish church records from the 16th century. These records often served as a valuable source of information about families and their lineages during that time period. Interestingly, some of the earliest records also reveal variations in the spelling, such as "Uskonen" or "Uskoinen," which further reinforces the link to the Finnish word "usko."
In the 17th century, a notable figure named Antti Usko (1612-1679) emerged as a prominent clergyman and educator in the city of Turku, Finland. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Turku Cathedral School, one of the oldest educational institutions in the country, and served as its rector for several years.
Another prominent individual bearing the Usko surname was Juha Usko (1768-1832), a Finnish artist and painter known for his religious-themed works. His paintings adorned the walls of several churches in Finland, showcasing his artistic talent and devotion to his faith.
During the 19th century, the Usko name gained further recognition with the birth of Matti Usko (1857-1927), a Finnish politician and journalist who played an influential role in the country's independence movement. He was a vocal advocate for Finnish nationalism and was actively involved in various political organizations and publications.
In the realm of literature, the Finnish author and poet Aino Usko (1902-1971) made significant contributions to the country's cultural landscape. Her works often explored themes of love, nature, and the Finnish identity, solidifying her position as one of the most celebrated writers of her time.
While the Usko surname has its roots firmly planted in Finland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by Finnish emigrants and their descendants. However, it remains a distinctly Finnish name, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of its origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Usko
Among Census respondents with the surname Usko, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Usko 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 Usko surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.0% · 110
- Hispanic or Latino2.6% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.7% · 2
- Two or more races1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Usko
Usko 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
#142,108
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
+10 bearers (+9.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 711 places
2020
#144,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
+0 bearers (+0.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 2,162 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #142,819 | 107 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #142,108 | 117 | 0.04 | +10 bearers (+9.3%) | Up 711 places |
| 2020 | #144,270 | 117 | 0.04 | +0 bearers (+0.0%) | Down 2,162 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 Usko 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 | #142,108 | #144,270 | -1.5% |
| Count | 117 | 117 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -2.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Usko bearers went from 117 to 117 (+0.0% change). The surname moved down 2,162 positions in the national ranking, going from #142,108 to #144,270.
FAQ
Usko surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Usko?
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the surname Usko. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,557,868 residents.
How common is Usko?
Usko ranks #144,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 117 people with the surname Usko. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (134), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Usko.
Has Usko become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Usko went from 117 recorded bearers to 117. That is an increase of 0 (+0.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #142,108 to #144,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Usko?
Among Census respondents with the surname Usko, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%). 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 Usko in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.0% (110 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Usko appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.0%), Hispanic (2.6%), American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%). 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 Usko (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 Usko mean?
A surname of Slavic origin likely meaning "small mouth" or "little mouth". 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 Usko (0.04 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 share the surname Usko?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.