How Common Is the Surname Nelson?
The surname Nelson is the #43 most common last name in the United States, with an estimated 483,888 bearers. That's about 1 in 694 Americans. This data comes from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau surname frequency tables.
This page covers the Nelson 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 Nelson.
Estimated Americans with this Surname
483,888
About 1 in 694 people in the U.S.
Census Rank
#43
Frequency Rate
144.06
per 100,000 people
Census Count
424,958
2010 Census
Data Source
2010
U.S. Census Bureau
Ancestry and Ethnicity for Nelson
The Nelson surname is most commonly associated with people who identify as White (77.66%). The next largest groups are Black (15.97%) and Hispanic (2.55%).
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 ... Nelson?
Pair the Nelson surname with a first name to estimate how many people share that full name in the United States.
Nelson Surname: Questions and Answers
How common is the last name Nelson?
Nelson is the #43 most common surname in the United States, with an estimated 483,888 people sharing this last name. It appears at a rate of 144.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What ethnicity is the surname Nelson?
The Nelson surname is most commonly associated with people who identify as White (77.66%). The next largest groups are Black (15.97%) and Hispanic (2.55%). 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] Nelson are there?
We can estimate any first + last name combination. Popular examples: Michael Nelson, James Nelson, John Nelson. 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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