How Common Is the Last Name Patterson?
An estimated 226,062 people in the United States share the surname Patterson. While not in the top 50, it remains a well-known surname ranking #121 overall. That's about 1 in 1,516 Americans. This data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau surname frequency tables.
This page covers the Patterson 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 Patterson.
Estimated Americans with this Surname
226,062
About 1 in 1,516 people in the U.S.
Census Rank
#121
Frequency Rate
65.95
per 100,000 people
Census Count
197,137
2020 Census
Data Source
2020
U.S. Census Bureau
Ancestry and Ethnicity for Patterson
The Patterson surname is most commonly associated with people who identify as White (64.55%). The next largest groups are Black (26.15%) and Two or More Races (4.55%).
Self-reported race and ethnicity from the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau surname tables. Some categories may be suppressed for privacy when sample sizes are small.
Historical Census Data for Patterson
Patterson appears in 3 published Census surname releases on this site (2000, 2010, 2020). From 2000 to 2020, the raw count became less common and the per-100,000 rate became less common. Its best published rank was #104 in 2000.
Between the 2010 and 2020 census releases, the surname Patterson became less common in the United States. Both the raw count and the population-adjusted frequency moved down.
The line to watch most closely is per 100,000 people. That adjusts for overall population growth, so it shows whether Patterson became a bigger or smaller share of the country, not just whether the raw count went up.
Census Count Over Time
Raw Census count in each published surname release.
197,137 to 205,423
Per 100,000 Over Time
Population-adjusted frequency, which is usually the cleaner trend line.
65.95 to 73.60
Release-by-release summary
Each row is a published Census surname table for Patterson. The change column compares each release to the one before it.
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Change vs prior release | Largest recorded group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #104 | 198,557 | 73.60 | Baseline release | White (70.09%) |
| 2010 | #117 | 205,423 | 69.64 |
Count 3.40%
Rate -5.53% | White (67.27%) |
| 2020 Latest | #121 | 197,137 | 65.95 |
Count -4.12%
Rate -5.44% | White (64.55%) |
If the raw count rose but the per-100,000 number fell, the surname still became less common relative to the size of the U.S. population. That is why the frequency rate usually tells the clearer story.
Recorded ancestry change
These percentages show how the Census profile for this surname shifted across the published surveys on this site.
| Ancestry | 2020 | 2010 | 2000 | Change Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 64.55% | 67.27% | 70.09% | -8.23% |
| Black | 26.15% | 26.80% | 25.66% | 1.90% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 0.61% | 0.47% | 0.37% | 48.47% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.61% | 0.68% | 0.61% | -0.29% |
| Two or More Races | 4.55% | 2.35% | 1.67% | 92.62% |
| Hispanic | 3.54% | 2.43% | 1.61% | 74.86% |
These percentages come from self-reported Census data. They describe how the recorded makeup of people using the surname Patterson changed from 2000 through 2020, not the deeper family origin of every bearer of the name.
First Name + Patterson Combinations
How many people share a full name with Patterson as the last name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Patterson Surname: Questions and Answers
How common is the last name Patterson?
Patterson is the #121 most common surname in the United States, with an estimated 226,062 people sharing this last name. It appears at a rate of 65.95 per 100,000 Americans.
Has the surname Patterson become more or less common over time?
In the published Census surname tables on this site, Patterson moved from 198,557 people in 2000 to 197,137 in 2020. The more important line is the population-adjusted rate, which changed from 73.60 to 65.95 per 100,000.
Why can the raw count go up while the rate per 100,000 goes down?
Because the total U.S. population can grow faster than the surname itself. A surname can have more people in absolute numbers but still make up a smaller share of the country, which is why the per-100,000 figure often tells the clearer story.
What does the ancestry change table show for Patterson?
It compares the published Census demographic mix for Patterson across releases on this page. That helps you see whether the recorded share of the surname shifted between groups over time, but it still does not tell the full family history of every person with the name.
What does 65.95 per 100,000 mean?
It means that if you picked 100,000 people in the United States at random, about 65.95 of them would have the surname Patterson. This is usually the clearest way to compare surnames because it adjusts for the size of the total population.
What ethnicity is the surname Patterson?
The Patterson surname is most commonly associated with people who identify as White (64.55%). The next largest groups are Black (26.15%) and Two or More Races (4.55%). This data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau surname tables, which include self-reported race and ethnicity breakdowns.
Does the ancestry table tell the exact family origin of everyone named Patterson?
No. It shows how people with the surname Patterson identified in the Census. That is useful context, but it does not prove the deeper family history, nationality, or origin story of every person with the name.
How many people named [First Name] Patterson are there?
We can estimate any first + last name combination. Popular examples: Michael Patterson, James Patterson, John Patterson. Search any combination on our homepage.
Where does this surname data come from?
Surname frequency data comes from the 2020 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
How Many of Me