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

Bangs, 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 Bangs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bangs in America

Bangs is the 12467th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bangs surname appeared 2,490 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 Bangs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bangs 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 Bangs

The surname BANGS traces its origins to England and has its roots in the Old English word "bang," meaning a slope or hill. It was likely first used as a topographic name to identify someone who lived on or near a hill or sloping area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BANGS surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Bange" in the county of Suffolk. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including "de la Bange" and "atte Bange," reflecting the common practice of using prepositions to indicate a person's association with a particular location.

The name BANGS can also be traced to place names in England, such as Bangs Green in Gloucestershire and Bangs Croft in Suffolk. These place names likely influenced the adoption of the surname by families residing in or near those areas.

Notable individuals bearing the BANGS surname throughout history include:

1. John BANGS (c. 1589-1674), an early English settler in Massachusetts Bay Colony and one of the founders of Eastham, Massachusetts.

2. Jonathan BANGS (1738-1806), an American Revolutionary War soldier and one of the earliest settlers in Frankfort, Maine.

3. Edward BANGS (1756-1839), an American merchant and shipowner from Massachusetts, who played a significant role in the early maritime trade with China.

4. Mary Rogers BANGS (1828-1905), an American writer and editor, known for her contributions to children's literature and her work with Harper's Magazine.

5. Lester BANGS (1948-1982), an influential American music journalist and critic, known for his gonzo-style writing and his coverage of rock music in publications like Creem and Rolling Stone.

The BANGS surname has a rich history rooted in the topography of England and has been carried by notable individuals across various fields, from early colonial settlers to influential writers and journalists.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bangs

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

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

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

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