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

Be, 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 Be surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Be in America

Be is the 22450th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Be surname appeared 1,146 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 Be.

We can also compare 2010 data for Be 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 Be

The surname "Be" has its origins in the Middle Ages, tracing back to various regions across Europe. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "beau," meaning "handsome" or "beautiful." This name was likely given as a nickname to someone of attractive appearance or as a term of endearment.

In England, the name is found in records dating back to the 13th century. One of the earliest documented instances is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a Robert le Beau. The use of the Norman French prefix "le" before the name suggests that it was initially a descriptive nickname.

The name also has roots in the Netherlands, where it may have originated from the Dutch word "bee," referring to the insect. This connection could imply that the name was given to someone who kept bees or lived near a beehive.

In Italy, the surname "Be" is thought to have evolved from the Latin word "bene," meaning "well" or "good." It may have been used as a descriptor for someone with a positive or virtuous character.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name is Guglielmo Be, an Italian merchant from Genoa who lived in the late 13th century. His name appears in several trade documents from that period.

During the 15th century, a French nobleman named Jean de Be served as a knight in the court of King Charles VII. He is mentioned in chronicles from that time for his bravery in battle.

In the 16th century, an English scholar named Robert Be was a fellow at the University of Cambridge. He authored several works on philosophy and theology between 1530 and 1560.

In the 17th century, a Dutch artist named Cornelis Be gained recognition for his landscape paintings. He was active in Amsterdam from 1620 to 1665.

Another notable bearer of the name was the Italian composer and violinist Giuseppe Be, who lived from 1690 to 1756. He was known for his contributions to the development of the concerto grosso form.

While the name "Be" has various possible origins and meanings, it has been present in numerous European regions for centuries, reflecting the diverse cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped surname patterns over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Be

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

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

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

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