How Common Is the Surname James?
The surname James is the #85 most common last name in the United States, with an estimated 283,964 bearers. That's about 1 in 1,183 Americans. This data comes from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau surname frequency tables.
This page covers the James surname's frequency in the U.S. population, its rank among all American surnames, and a breakdown of ancestry and ethnicity data from the Census. You can also check how many people share any first + last name combination involving James.
Estimated Americans with this Surname
283,964
About 1 in 1,183 people in the U.S.
Census Rank
#85
Frequency Rate
84.54
per 100,000 people
Census Count
249,379
2010 Census
Data Source
2010
U.S. Census Bureau
Ancestry and Ethnicity for James
The James surname is most commonly associated with people who identify as White (51.58%). The next largest groups are Black (38.86%) and Hispanic (3.08%).
Self-reported race and ethnicity from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau surname tables. Some categories may be suppressed for privacy when sample sizes are small.
How Many People Are Named ... James?
Pair the James surname with a first name to estimate how many people share that full name in the United States.
James Surname: Questions and Answers
How common is the last name James?
James is the #85 most common surname in the United States, with an estimated 283,964 people sharing this last name. It appears at a rate of 84.54 per 100,000 Americans.
What ethnicity is the surname James?
The James surname is most commonly associated with people who identify as White (51.58%). The next largest groups are Black (38.86%) and Hispanic (3.08%). This data comes from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau surname tables, which include self-reported race and ethnicity breakdowns.
How many people named [First Name] James are there?
We can estimate any first + last name combination. Popular examples: Michael James, James James, John James. Search any combination on our homepage.
Where does this surname data come from?
Surname frequency data comes from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau decennial surname tables. These list every surname appearing in the Census along with frequency rates and demographic breakdowns. Full methodology.
Search for a full name combination
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