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

Baird, 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 Baird surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Baird in America

Baird is the 1010th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Baird surname appeared 34,721 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 12 people would have the surname Baird.

We can also compare 2010 data for Baird 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 Baird

The surname Baird originates from Scotland, with its earliest known use dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "bearde," meaning "bearded one," suggesting it may have been a descriptive nickname given to someone with a prominent beard.

The earliest recorded reference to the name Baird can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented the names of Scottish noblemen and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. One notable entry is that of John Baird, a landowner from Lanarkshire.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various Scottish records and charters, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1359, which mention a Thomas Bard. The spelling variations during this period included Baird, Bard, and Bairde, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in medieval times.

By the 15th century, the Baird family had established themselves as a prominent clan in Ayrshire, Scotland. One of the earliest recorded members of this clan was Sir John Baird of Kilwinning, who was knighted by King James II of Scotland in 1456.

The 16th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals bearing the surname Baird. One was William Baird (c. 1550-1610), a Scottish minister and author who wrote extensively on religious topics. Another was Robert Baird (1588-1637), a Scottish clergyman and one of the ministers who signed the National Covenant in 1638.

In the 17th century, the Baird family continued to be influential in Scotland. Sir John Baird (1620-1698) was a prominent lawyer and judge who served as Lord President of the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland at the time.

The 18th century brought forth William Baird (1701-1768), a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who founded the Baird Trust, a charitable organization that still operates today. Another notable figure was Sir David Baird (1757-1829), a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was later made a baronet for his military achievements.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Baird was Spencer Fullerton Baird (1823-1887), an American naturalist, ornithologist, and ichthyologist who served as the first commissioner of the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, now known as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Baird

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

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

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

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