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

Baxter, 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 Baxter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Baxter in America

Baxter is the 706th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Baxter surname appeared 49,033 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 17 people would have the surname Baxter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Baxter 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 Baxter

The surname Baxter originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word 'bækestere', meaning 'baker'. The Baxters were skilled tradespeople who baked and sold bread, which was a highly valued commodity in medieval times.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Baxter dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled 'Bakestere'. This comprehensive survey of England, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of various surnames during the Norman era.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various documents and records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as 'Bakester'. During this period, the Baxters were concentrated in the counties of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk, which were major centers of agriculture and trade.

One notable figure in history bearing the surname Baxter was Richard Baxter (1615-1691), an English Puritan church leader and prolific author. He wrote numerous influential works, including "The Saints' Everlasting Rest" and "A Call to the Unconverted". His writings had a significant impact on the religious and political landscape of 17th-century England.

Another prominent Baxter was William Baxter (1786-1868), a British philosopher and botanist. He made significant contributions to the study of botany and wrote several influential works, including "British Phaenogamous Botany" and "Stirpes Cryptogamicae Oxoniensis".

In the 19th century, the name Baxter was associated with the textile industry. One notable figure from this era was Sir David Baxter (1809-1889), a Scottish industrialist and philanthropist. He established the Baxter Brothers & Co. textile mill, which became one of the largest employers in Dundee, Scotland.

Another Baxter of note was Beverley Baxter (1896-1956), a Canadian novelist, journalist, and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons and was known for his outspoken views on social and political issues. His literary works included the novel "The Blinding Sunrise" and the autobiography "Memories and Portraits".

The name Baxter has also been associated with place names in various parts of England. For example, Baxter's Green is a village in Warwickshire, and Baxter's Hill is a location in Buckinghamshire. These place names likely derived from the occupational surname, reflecting the presence of Baxter families in these areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Baxter

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

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

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

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