Bairstow
A toponymic name derived from the town of Bairstow, England.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Bairstow. That puts it at #116,829 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bairstow 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
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#116,829
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
149
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 149 bearers of the surname Bairstow in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 116829th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bairstow, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bairstow
The surname Bairstow is of English origin, deriving from the region of West Yorkshire. It is believed to have originated as a locational name referring to a place now known as Bairstow, located near the town of Keighley. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "bær" meaning "bear" and "stow" meaning "place" or "meeting place".
Records indicate that the earliest known spelling of the name was Bayrestowe, which appeared in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. Other early spellings include Bayrstowe, Bairstowgh, and Bairestawe, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that time period.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1485, where a John Barestowe is mentioned. Another notable early reference is in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1553, which mentions a William Bairstow.
In terms of historical figures bearing the Bairstow name, one of the earliest was Sir William Bairstow (1642-1712), who served as Lord Mayor of York in 1704. Another prominent individual was John Bairstow (1700-1763), a renowned English musician and composer who served as organist at York Minster.
In later years, Sir Leonard Bairstow (1880-1963) was a notable English engineer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of aeronautics. His contemporary, Edward Bairstow (1874-1946), was a prominent English cricketer who played for Yorkshire and England in the early 20th century.
Another famous bearer of the name was Sir Andrew Bairstow (1904-1983), a British diplomat and civil servant who served as Ambassador to the United Nations from 1964 to 1967.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Bairstow, which has its roots in the West Yorkshire region of England and likely originated as a locational name referring to the place now known as Bairstow.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bairstow
Among Census respondents with the surname Bairstow, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Bairstow 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 Bairstow surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.0%
- Hispanic or Latino3.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bairstow 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 | #116,829 | #116,829 | 0.0% |
| Count | 149 | 149 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bairstow bearers went from 149 to 149 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #116,829 to #116,829.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bairstow
FAQ
Bairstow surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bairstow?
The surname Bairstow holds position #116,829 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bairstow surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bairstow, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%). 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.