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

Barefoot, 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 Barefoot surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Barefoot in America

Barefoot is the 7900th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Barefoot surname appeared 4,190 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 Barefoot.

We can also compare 2010 data for Barefoot 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 Barefoot

The surname Barefoot has its origins in medieval England, emerging in the 13th century as a descriptive nickname derived from the Old English words "bær" meaning bare and "fot" meaning foot. It was likely given to individuals who habitually went without shoes or footwear, either due to poverty or as a sign of religious devotion or penance.

One of the earliest known records of the surname Barefoot is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which document a John Barefot residing in Cambridgeshire. The surname also appears in various other medieval records, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which list a Johannes Barefote.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name continued to spread across different regions of England, with various spelling variations emerging, such as Barfot, Barfoot, and Barefut. These variations were primarily influenced by regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

In the 16th century, the surname Barefoot gained prominence with the rise of Walter Barefoot, a renowned English theologian and Archbishop of York from 1508 to 1513. Barefoot played a significant role in the ecclesiastical affairs of his time and was deeply involved in the political and religious turmoil surrounding the English Reformation.

Another notable figure bearing the Barefoot surname was Clement Barefoot, an English clergyman and author born in 1592. He served as the rector of St. Olave's Church in London and published several works, including "The Noble Prentice" and "The Godly and Costly Feast."

In the 17th century, the surname Barefoot was found in various parts of England, including Essex, where a family of that name owned land in the village of Great Wigborough. Thomas Barefoot, born in 1620, was a prominent member of this Essex family and served as a justice of the peace.

Moving into the 18th century, the Barefoot surname gained further recognition with the exploits of John Barefoot, an English privateer and naval officer who played a crucial role in the War of the Austrian Succession. Born in 1716, Barefoot commanded several ships and engaged in daring actions against enemy vessels, earning him a reputation for bravery and skill.

Another individual of note was William Barefoot, a British artist and engraver born in 1773. Barefoot was renowned for his intricate engravings and worked on several notable projects, including illustrations for Samuel Richardson's novel "Clarissa."

Throughout its long history, the surname Barefoot has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, from clergymen and authors to naval officers and artists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who bore this evocative name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Barefoot

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

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

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

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