FastNamesAdams Surname
Hebrew, English, Welsh and Scottish surname meaning "Patronymic surname derived from the biblical personal name Adam (from Hebrew Adamah, meaning 'earth', 'ground', or 'red clay'), signifying 'son of Adam'.". Ranked 42nd in the United States with 427,865 recorded bearers in the 2010 Census (145.1 per 100,000 Americans).
Meaning and origin of the surname Adams
Patronymic surname derived from the biblical personal name Adam (from Hebrew Adamah, meaning 'earth', 'ground', or 'red clay'), signifying 'son of Adam'.
Historically and linguistically, Adams belongs to the Hebrew, English, Welsh and Scottish family of surnames. It is conventionally pronounced "AD-uhmz".
United States Census frequency and ranking
In the official 2010 United States Census, Adams was recorded 427,865 times, ranking as the 42nd most common surname in the nation.
This represents an incidence rate of approximately 145.05 bearers per 100,000 Americans, or roughly 1 out of every 689 residents.
Race and ethnicity distribution
According to official decennial Census genealogy microdata, individuals bearing the surname Adamsreported the following racial and ethnic affiliations in the 2010 US Census:
| Racial or ethnic group | Share of bearers |
|---|---|
| White | 74.02% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2.57% |
| Black or African American | 19.90% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 0.56% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.79% |
| Two or more races | 2.16% |
Source: US Census Bureau, 2010 Census Surnames Data. Percentages may not sum to exactly 100% due to independent rounding or suppression of small cell counts for privacy protection.
History of the surname Adams
Adams originated as an English, Welsh, and Scottish patronymic surname formed by adding the genitive -s suffix to the personal name Adam. Adam derives from biblical Hebrew adamah ('ground' or 'red earth'), referencing the creation of man from dust in the Book of Genesis.
The personal name Adam gained massive popularity in England and Scotland during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, introduced by Anglo-Norman clerics and Crusaders. In Wales, it was adopted as a hereditary patronymic surname following the Anglicization of Welsh patronymic naming systems during the Tudor era. Early records include Thomas Adam in Yorkshire in the 1379 Poll Tax.
Adams holds unparalleled historical distinction in the United States, borne by Founding Father and 2nd US President John Adams and his son, 6th US President John Quincy Adams, as well as patriot Samuel Adams and photographer Ansel Adams. In the 2010 US Census, Adams ranked 42nd nationwide with 427,865 recorded bearers (145.05 per 100,000 Americans).
Notable people with the surname Adams
- John Adams (1735–1826), 2nd U.S. President and Founding Father
- John Quincy Adams (1767–1848), 6th U.S. President and diplomat
- Samuel Adams (1722–1803), Founding Father and American revolutionary leader
- Ansel Adams (1902–1984), American landscape photographer and environmentalist
Variants and related surnames
Spelling variants
Related surnames
Sources and references
- P.H. Reaney, R.M. Wilson. A Dictionary of English Surnames (1997), p. 2.
- Charles Wareing Bardsley. A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1901), p. 39.
- George F. Black. The Surnames of Scotland (1946), p. 7.