Quick answer

About 13,000–18,000 people in the U.S. have the last name Epstein , depending on the data source and year. The most frequently cited official figure comes from the 2010 U.S. Census, which recorded 12,952 occurrences of the surname Epstein.

Where the numbers come from

Different reputable surname databases give slightly different estimates because they use different census years, projections, or methodologies:

  • 2010 U.S. Census (NameCensus / OurPublicRecords):
    • 12,952 people with the surname Epstein
    • Ranked 2,786th most common surname in the U.S.
    • About 4.39 per 100,000 Americans
  • MyNameStats (Census-based with projection):
    • Estimates roughly 18,387 people named Epstein
    • Ranks it around 2,187th most popular family name
    • About 5.77 per 100,000 Americans
  • House of Names:
    • Estimates 9,948 people with the Epstein surname
    • Ranks it 3,264th in the U.S.

These variations are normal for surname statistics: older censuses undercount some groups, newer projections adjust for growth and migration, and some sites smooth or model the data differently.

Historical trend (2000 vs. 2010)

Using the 2000 and 2010 decennial censuses, the Epstein surname actually declined slightly in raw count:

Metric| 2000 Census| 2010 Census| Change
---|---|---|---
Rank| 2,489| 2,786| ↓ in popularity
Count| 13,269| 12,952| −2.4%
Proportion per 100k| 4.92| 4.39| −11.4%

This suggests the name has become a bit less common relative to the overall U.S. population over that decade.

Who are the people named Epstein?

The name is historically Jewish and German in origin, often linked to places in Germany and to Yiddish words meaning “stone,” “jewel,” or “apple tree” depending on the etymological interpretation. Census ancestry data for the Epstein surname shows:

  • ~95.7% Non-Hispanic White
  • Small percentages identifying as Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, or Two or More Races

There are many unrelated Epsteins across the U.S. working in fields like law, medicine, academia, business, and the arts. Given there are thousands of households with this last name, the overwhelming majority have no familial connection to any single high-profile individual who shares the surname.

Bottom line

  • Best official snapshot (2010 Census): about 12,952 people in the U.S. have the last name Epstein.
  • Broader estimates including projections: roughly 13,000–18,000.
  • It’s an uncommon but not rare surname, and statistically most Epsteins are unrelated to each other.

TL;DR: Around 13–18 thousand Americans carry the Epstein surname, with the most solid figure being 12,952 from the 2010 Census.

Information gathered from public census data and surname statistics available on the internet.