2000
#118,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 135
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Baux
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near clay deposits or pits.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 139 Americans carry the last name Baux. That puts it at #141,309 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,465,859 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Baux surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
139
1 in 2,465,859
Census rank
#141,309
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
121
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 121 bearers of the surname Baux in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 141309th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Baux, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (21.5%) and Black (8.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Baux
The surname BAUX has its origins in the Provence region of southern France, dating back to the early medieval period around the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the French place name Les Baux, referring to the historic village and commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of Provence.
The name BAUX is thought to have evolved from the Latin word "balneum," meaning "bath" or "baths," possibly alluding to the natural hot springs or thermal baths found in the region. This connection to thermal springs may have influenced the naming of the Les Baux settlement and subsequently the surname.
One of the earliest recorded references to the surname BAUX can be found in the Domesday Book, a medieval census commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is mentioned in connection with landholders and noblemen from the Provence area, indicating the surname's aristocratic roots.
Notable historical figures with the surname BAUX include Raymond I des Baux (1072-1150), a powerful Provençal nobleman and the Prince of Orange. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy during the 12th century. Another prominent figure was Bertrand III des Baux (1355-1423), a French nobleman and military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War.
During the 14th century, the BAUX family gained prominence in the Kingdom of Naples, with members holding influential positions. One such figure was Hugues des Baux (1315-1374), who served as the Grand Seneschal of Naples and was a trusted advisor to the ruling Angevin dynasty.
In the realm of literature, Jean des Baux (1567-1642) was a French poet and dramatist associated with the Baroque movement. His works, including tragedies and pastoral poetry, gained recognition during the early 17th century.
Another notable individual was Marie Anne des Baux (1710-1787), a French noblewoman and courtier at the court of King Louis XV. She was known for her involvement in the literary salons of Paris and her patronage of the arts.
Over the centuries, the surname BAUX has maintained its connection to the Provence region of France, with variations in spelling and pronunciation emerging in different areas. While the name's roots can be traced back to the medieval period, it continues to hold historical significance and a lasting legacy in the region's cultural and aristocratic heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Baux
Among Census respondents with the surname Baux, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (21.5%) and Black (8.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Baux bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Baux surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White66.1% · 80
- Hispanic or Latino21.5% · 26
- Black or African American8.3% · 10
- Two or more races2.5% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Baux
Baux appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#137,327
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 122
-13 bearers (-9.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 18,373 places
2020
#141,309
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
-1 bearers (-0.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 3,982 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #118,954 | 135 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #137,327 | 122 | 0.04 | -13 bearers (-9.6%) | Down 18,373 places |
| 2020 | #141,309 | 121 | 0.04 | -1 bearers (-0.8%) | Down 3,982 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Baux surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #137,327 | #141,309 | -2.9% |
| Count | 122 | 121 | -0.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 1.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Baux bearers went from 122 to 121 (-0.8% change). The surname moved down 3,982 positions in the national ranking, going from #137,327 to #141,309.
FAQ
Baux surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Baux?
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the surname Baux. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,465,859 residents.
How common is Baux?
Baux ranks #141,309 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 121 people with the surname Baux. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (139), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Baux.
Has Baux become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Baux went from 122 recorded bearers to 121. That is a decrease of 1 (-0.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #137,327 to #141,309.
What does the Census say about the background of Baux?
Among Census respondents with the surname Baux, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (21.5%) and Black (8.3%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Baux in the 2020 Census, accounting for 66.1% (80 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Baux appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (66.1%), Hispanic (21.5%), Black (8.3%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Baux (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Baux mean?
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near clay deposits or pits. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Baux (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Baux?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.