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

Battle, 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 Battle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Battle in America

Battle is the 1332nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Battle surname appeared 26,432 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Battle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Battle 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 Battle

The surname Battle is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "bataille," which means "battle" or "conflict." This surname likely originated in the Middle Ages, during a time when surnames were often derived from occupations, physical characteristics, or locations.

The earliest recorded instances of the Battle surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various English records and documents. One notable example is the appearance of the name in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census-like records compiled during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the Battle surname appears in the Placita de Quo Warranto, a collection of legal records from the reign of Edward I and Edward II. This document mentions individuals with the surname Battle, suggesting the name was well-established by this time.

The Battle surname may have been initially bestowed upon individuals who were involved in military conflicts or battles, either as soldiers or commanders. It could also have been given as a descriptive name to someone who lived near a site of a notable battle or conflict.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Battle surname was John Battle, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1230. These rolls were financial records maintained by the Exchequer, the medieval accounting department of the English government.

In the late 14th century, a prominent figure named Ralph Battle was recorded in the Wills and Inventories of the Northern Counties of England. He was a landowner and likely a person of some importance in the region.

During the 15th century, the Battle surname appeared in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the Paston family, who were wealthy landowners in Norfolk. These letters provide valuable insights into the lives and activities of the gentry class during that period.

In the 16th century, the Battle surname was associated with several notable individuals, including William Battle (1504-1576), who served as the Bishop of Exeter and later the Bishop of Salisbury during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure with the Battle surname was Sir John Battle (1542-1618), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Arundel and East Grinstead.

Throughout the centuries, the Battle surname has been found in various parts of England, particularly in the southern and eastern regions, where it appears to have originated. However, it has also spread to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, as people migrated and settled in different areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Battle

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

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

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

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