Attenborough
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the brook by the town".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Attenborough. That puts it at #138,304 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Attenborough surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#138,304
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
121
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 121 bearers of the surname Attenborough in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 138304th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Attenborough, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.0%. The next largest groups are Black (7.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (5.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Attenborough
The surname Attenborough has its origins in England, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "atten" meaning "at the" and "burgh" meaning "fortified dwelling" or "manor." The name is believed to have originated as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near or was associated with a specific fortified town or manor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions "Adeneberge" in Bedfordshire, which is likely an early spelling variation of the name Attenborough.
During the medieval period, the name appeared in various records with different spellings, such as Atteborough, Adenebergh, and Attenburghe. These variations reflect the fluidity of spelling and the influence of local dialects at the time.
The earliest known bearer of the Attenborough name was Sir William Attenborough, born around 1390 in Nottinghamshire, England. He served as a knight and landowner during the reign of Henry V.
In the 16th century, the Attenborough family was well-established in Nottinghamshire, with records indicating their presence in the village of Attenborough, which likely derived its name from the family.
One notable figure from this period was Sir John Attenborough (1516-1585), who served as a Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire and played a crucial role in the suppression of the Pilgrimage of Grace, a rebellion against the English Reformation.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Attenborough name continued to spread across England, with families establishing themselves in various counties, including Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Warwickshire.
In the 19th century, Sir Richard Attenborough (1811-1892) became a prominent figure, serving as a British diplomat and colonial administrator in South Africa. He played a significant role in the establishment of British rule in the region.
Another notable bearer of the Attenborough name was Sir David Attenborough (1926-present), the world-renowned naturalist, broadcaster, and environmentalist. Born in London, Sir David has gained global recognition for his numerous nature documentaries and contributions to the understanding and preservation of the natural world.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Attenborough
Among Census respondents with the surname Attenborough, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.0%. The next largest groups are Black (7.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (5.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Attenborough bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Attenborough surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White81.0%
- Black or African American7.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander5.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Attenborough surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #138,304 | #138,304 | 0.0% |
| Count | 121 | 121 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Attenborough bearers went from 121 to 121 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #138,304 to #138,304.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Attenborough
FAQ
Attenborough surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Attenborough?
The surname Attenborough holds position #138,304 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Attenborough surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Attenborough, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.0%. The next largest groups are Black (7.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (5.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.