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

Auburn, 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 Auburn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Auburn in America

Auburn is the 94730th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Auburn surname appeared 193 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Auburn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Auburn 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 Auburn

The surname AUBURN has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "æl" meaning "elf" and "burna" meaning "stream" or "brook," suggesting a connection to a location near a stream inhabited by elves or sprites according to folklore.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name AUBURN can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Alburna" in reference to a settlement in Wiltshire. This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, variations of the name such as "Alburne" and "Alborn" were documented in historical records, reflecting the evolution of the spelling over time. It is believed that the name may have originated as a place name before becoming a surname.

Notable individuals with the surname AUBURN include Sir John Auburn (1435-1492), a prominent knight and landowner in Warwickshire during the Wars of the Roses. Another noteworthy figure was Robert Auburn (1568-1637), a successful merchant and benefactor who established a charitable foundation in London.

In the 17th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as "Auborne" and "Auburne," as evidenced in parish records and legal documents. One example is William Auborne (1621-1684), a respected lawyer and judge who served in the Court of Common Pleas.

The 18th century saw the emergence of several notable AUBURN individuals, including the writer and poet Elizabeth Auburn (1723-1786) and the renowned landscape architect Lancelot Auburn (1749-1828), known for his work on several grand estates in England.

By the 19th century, the spelling had largely settled on the modern form of "AUBURN." One prominent figure from this period was the explorer and naturalist Charles Auburn (1837-1909), who undertook expeditions to Africa and published several books on his travels and discoveries.

Over the centuries, the surname AUBURN has been associated with various locations in England, particularly in the counties of Wiltshire, Warwickshire, and Surrey, where the name has deep historical roots. While the name has spread globally, its origins can be traced back to the picturesque English countryside and its connection to the elven folklore of the medieval period.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Auburn

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

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 Auburn 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 Auburn 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 Auburn was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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