Bat last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Bat

An occupational surname referring to one who made or sold bats (sporting equipment).

Bat, 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 Bat surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bat in America

Bat is the 123796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bat surname appeared 139 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 Bat.

The history of the last name Bat

The surname "Bat" originates from England, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bat," which referred to a small winged mammal of the order Chiroptera. This name likely emerged as a nickname for someone who exhibited characteristics reminiscent of a bat, such as being active at night or possessing keen eyesight.

In the earliest records, the name appeared in various spellings, including "Batt," "Batte," and "Batt." It is documented in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions individuals with the surname "Batt" residing in counties like Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1199, which lists a person named Willelmus Bat. In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Curia Regis Rolls of Suffolk, where a certain Robertus Batt was mentioned in 1230.

The name "Bat" is also associated with several place names in England, such as Batcombe in Somerset and Batley in Yorkshire. These place names may have influenced the development and spread of the surname in their respective regions.

Among notable historical figures bearing the surname "Bat," one can mention:

  1. Sir Thomas Bat (1516-1592), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire in the 16th century.
  2. Henry Bat (1586-1644), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, in the early 17th century.
  3. William Bat (1630-1697), an English merchant and politician who represented Andover in the Parliament of England.
  4. John Bat (1660-1718), a British military officer who fought in the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession.
  5. Elizabeth Bat (1675-1765), an English landowner and philanthropist known for her charitable contributions in the county of Gloucestershire.

The surname "Bat" has a rich history spanning centuries, originating from a humble nickname and evolving into a widespread surname across various regions of England. Its presence in historical records and its association with notable individuals contribute to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bat

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

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 Bat was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only38.85%54
Non-Hispanic Black Only7.91%11
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only38.13%53
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races(S)%(S)
Hispanic Origin12.23%17

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.

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

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

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