2000
#6,985
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,425
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.64
Uncommon Last name
Man
A surname of Chinese origin meaning "full" or "satisfied," or referring to a place called Man.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 14,292 Americans carry the last name Man. That puts it at #2,810 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 23,982 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Man 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Man with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
14K
1 in 23,982
Census rank
#2,810
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
12K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 12,463 bearers of the surname Man in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2810th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Man, the largest self-reported group is White at 43.4%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (26.8%) and Hispanic (15.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Man
The surname "Man" is believed to have originated from England in the medieval period, potentially as early as the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "mann," which means "human being" or "person." This name was likely used as a descriptive surname, referring to someone who was considered exceptionally human or manly in their characteristics or actions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Man" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This document mentions individuals with the surname "Man" residing in various counties, including Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.
During the 13th century, the surname "Man" appeared in several historical records, such as the Curia Regis Rolls and the Feet of Fines. These documents provide insights into legal proceedings and land transactions involving individuals with this surname.
In the 14th century, the surname "Man" was associated with notable figures such as Robert Man (c. 1300-1370), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London. Another prominent individual was John Man (c. 1350-1415), a member of Parliament and landowner in Oxfordshire.
The 15th century saw the rise of Sir John Man (c. 1420-1480), a distinguished soldier and politician who served as the Sheriff of Berkshire and held important positions at the court of Edward IV. This period also witnessed the emergence of variations in the spelling of the surname, such as "Manne" and "Manne."
In the 16th century, the surname "Man" was associated with several notable individuals, including Thomas Man (c. 1500-1558), a wealthy merchant and benefactor who founded the prestigious Merchant Taylors' School in London. Another prominent figure was Sir Henry Man (c. 1520-1591), a successful merchant and diplomat who served as the Lord Mayor of London.
During the 17th century, the surname "Man" gained further prominence with individuals such as Samuel Man (c. 1630-1695), a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. Additionally, Sir Reginald Man (c. 1650-1718) was a respected judge and politician who served as the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer.
The 18th century witnessed the emergence of the renowned Man family of bankers and industrialists, including James Man (c. 1720-1792), who established the successful banking firm of Man & Co. in London. Another notable figure from this period was Sir Horace Man (c. 1755-1828), a distinguished diplomat and politician who served as the Governor of the Bank of England.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Man
Among Census respondents with the surname Man, the largest self-reported group is White at 43.4%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (26.8%) and Hispanic (15.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Man 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 Man surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White43.4% · 5,403
- Asian and Pacific Islander26.8% · 3,340
- Hispanic or Latino15.2% · 1,898
- Black or African American12.1% · 1,514
- Two or more races1.8% · 222
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7% · 86
Timeline
Historical Census data for Man
Man 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
#8,266
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,010
-415 bearers (-9.4%)
Per 100,000 1.36
Rank movement Down 1,281 places
2020
#2,810
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 12,463
+8,453 bearers (+210.8%)
Per 100,000 4.17
Rank movement Up 5,456 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #6,985 | 4,425 | 1.64 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #8,266 | 4,010 | 1.36 | -415 bearers (-9.4%) | Down 1,281 places |
| 2020 | #2,810 | 12,463 | 4.17 | +8,453 bearers (+210.8%) | Up 5,456 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 Man 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 | #8,266 | #2,810 | 66.0% |
| Count | 4,010 | 12,463 | 210.8% |
| Per 100K | 1.36 | 4.17 | 206.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Man bearers went from 4,010 to 12,463 (+210.8% change). The surname moved up 5,456 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,266 to #2,810.
FAQ
Man surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Man?
Name Census estimates that about 14,292 living Americans carry the surname Man. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 23,982 residents.
How common is Man?
Man ranks #2,810 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 4.17 per 100,000 residents, which is about 4 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 12,463 people with the surname Man. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (14,292), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 4.17 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 4.17 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 4 of them to have the surname Man.
Has Man become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Man went from 4,010 recorded bearers to 12,463. That is an increase of 8,453 (+210.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #8,266 to #2,810.
What does the Census say about the background of Man?
Among Census respondents with the surname Man, the largest self-reported group is White at 43.4%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (26.8%) and Hispanic (15.2%). 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 Man in the 2020 Census, accounting for 43.4% (5,403 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Man appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (43.4%), Asian/Pacific Islander (26.8%), Hispanic (15.2%). 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 Man (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 Man mean?
A surname of Chinese origin meaning "full" or "satisfied," or referring to a place called Man. 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 Man (4.17 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 have the surname Man?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.