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

Bash, 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 Bash surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bash in America

Bash is the 9646th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bash surname appeared 3,364 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 Bash.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bash 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 Bash

The surname Bash is believed to have originated in Germany, with its roots dating back to the 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "basch," which means "thicket" or "brushwood." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a dense, overgrown area.

In the late Middle Ages, the Bash name appeared in various records and documents across German-speaking regions, including the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a medieval collection of documents related to the Margraviate of Brandenburg. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in a 1367 entry, which mentions a certain "Hans Bash" from the town of Lübben.

As the Bash family spread across Europe, the name underwent several spelling variations, such as Basch, Bascht, and Bäsch. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and linguistic differences. For instance, in some areas of southern Germany and Austria, the name was commonly spelled as "Bäsch."

One notable figure bearing the Bash surname was Johann Bash (1528-1594), a renowned Protestant theologian and reformer from Nuremberg, Germany. He played a significant role in the Reformation movement and authored several influential works on theology and church doctrine.

Another individual of historical significance was Maria Bash (1701-1758), a German painter and engraver from Augsburg. She was highly regarded for her intricate copperplate engravings and portraits, many of which can still be found in museums and art collections across Europe.

In the 18th century, the Bash name gained prominence in the world of music with the birth of Johann Christoph Friedrich Bash (1713-1788), a German composer and organist from Saxony. He is best known for his contributions to the development of the early classical style and his compositions for the organ.

Moving into the 19th century, we find the name associated with Julius Bash (1825-1901), a German-American businessman and philanthropist. He immigrated to the United States in the mid-1800s and became a successful manufacturer and investor in New York City, where he also established several charitable organizations.

The Bash surname has also left its mark in the field of literature with the American writer and poet, Thomas Bash (1946-2000). Born in Massachusetts, he was celebrated for his poignant and introspective works that explored themes of identity, loss, and the human condition.

While the Bash surname may have originated in a specific region, it has since spread across the globe, carried by generations of individuals who have left their mark in various fields and professions. Despite its diverse iterations and spellings, the name remains a testament to the rich cultural and linguistic tapestry woven throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bash

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

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

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

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