Base last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Base

A derived surname from an Old English place name meaning "marsh" or "marshy area."

Base, 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 Base surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Base in America

Base is the 33894th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Base surname appeared 671 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 Base.

We can also compare 2010 data for Base 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank33894308689.34%
Count671712-5.93%
Proportion per 100k0.230.26-12.24%

The history of the last name Base

The surname "Base" is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "baese," which means "flat" or "low-lying." This likely refers to an area of land or a geographic feature near where the original bearers of the name lived.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Base" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus Base residing in Berkshire.

In the 13th century, records show a William de la Base living in Gloucestershire. The use of the prefix "de la" suggests a connection to a specific place, possibly a manor or village called "Base." This could be a variation of the name or an indication that the family originated from a location with a similar-sounding name.

During the medieval period, surnames were often derived from occupations, nicknames, or places of origin. It is possible that some individuals with the surname "Base" may have acquired it as a descriptive nickname or a reference to their place of residence or work, such as a farm or estate located on low-lying or flat land.

Notable historical figures with the surname "Base" include:

  1. John Base (c. 1450 - 1515), an English politician and landowner from Gloucestershire.
  2. Thomas Base (1565 - 1638), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stanford Dingley in Berkshire.
  3. Nathaniel Base (1637 - 1699), an English merchant and landowner from Somerset.
  4. Margaret Base (1710 - 1778), a philanthropist and benefactor from Warwickshire, known for her support of local charities and educational institutions.
  5. William Base (1789 - 1865), a British engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of early steam engines and machinery.

While the surname "Base" is not among the most common in England, it has a long and varied history, with roots dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period and a connection to the land and geography of the regions where it first emerged.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Base

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

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 Base was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only85.54%574
Non-Hispanic Black Only5.37%36
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only4.92%33
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races2.24%15
Hispanic Origin1.94%13

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 Base has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

20102000Change (%)
White85.54%87.50%-2.27%
Black5.37%5.34%0.56%
Asian and Pacific Islander4.92%2.53%64.16%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%(S)%(S)%
Two or More Races2.24%(S)%(S)%
Hispanic1.94%2.25%-14.80%

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

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

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