Find out how popular the last name Ashburn is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ashburn.

Ashburn, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ashburn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ashburn in America

Ashburn is the 8049th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ashburn surname appeared 4,112 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ashburn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ashburn to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ashburn

The surname Ashburn originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is a locational surname, derived from the Old English words "æsc" meaning ash tree and "burna" meaning a stream or brook. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near an ash tree by a stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1198, where it appears as "de Esseburn." This spelling variation reflects the evolution of the name over time, as the pronunciation and written form adapted to regional dialects and scribal conventions.

The Ashburn surname has a strong connection to certain regions of England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire. These areas were known for their abundance of ash trees and numerous small streams, making it a natural environment for the name to originate.

In the Domesday Book, a renowned medieval survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, several place names similar to Ashburn can be found, including "Esseburne" and "Esseburn." While these entries do not directly reference individuals with the Ashburn surname, they provide evidence of the name's geographical roots.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Ashburn surname. One of the earliest was John de Ashburn, a 14th-century English landowner and knight who served under Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Another prominent figure was Richard Ashburn (1535-1605), an English clergyman and author who played a significant role in the English Reformation.

Other notable individuals include William Ashburn (1691-1768), a British colonial administrator who served as the 17th Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and John Ashburn (1753-1828), an English engraver and painter known for his landscapes and portraits.

In the literary realm, Harriet Ashburn (1844-1923) was an American novelist and short story writer who wrote under the pen name "Frances Courtenay Baylor." Her works often depicted life in the American South during the late 19th century.

While the Ashburn surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, its earliest recorded instances and historical significance can be traced back to the English counties where it first emerged.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ashburn

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ashburn.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ashburn was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ashburn has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ashburn was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ashburn, please contact us.

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