How Common Is the Surname Sterling?
The surname Sterling is the #1,362 most common last name in the United States, with an estimated 29,491 bearers. That's about 1 in 11,390 Americans. This data comes from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau surname frequency tables.
This page covers the Sterling 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 Sterling.
Estimated Americans with this Surname
29,491
About 1 in 11,390 people in the U.S.
Census Rank
#1,362
Frequency Rate
8.78
per 100,000 people
Census Count
25,894
2010 Census
Data Source
2010
U.S. Census Bureau
Ancestry and Ethnicity for Sterling
The Sterling surname is most commonly associated with people who identify as White (63.61%). The next largest groups are Black (28.49%) and Hispanic (4.35%).
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 ... Sterling?
Pair the Sterling surname with a first name to estimate how many people share that full name in the United States.
Sterling Surname: Questions and Answers
How common is the last name Sterling?
Sterling is the #1,362 most common surname in the United States, with an estimated 29,491 people sharing this last name. It appears at a rate of 8.78 per 100,000 Americans.
What ethnicity is the surname Sterling?
The Sterling surname is most commonly associated with people who identify as White (63.61%). The next largest groups are Black (28.49%) and Hispanic (4.35%). 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] Sterling are there?
We can estimate any first + last name combination. Popular examples: Michael Sterling, James Sterling, John Sterling. 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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