Bearse
An English surname derived from a place name in Cornwall, England.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 583 Americans carry the last name Bearse. That puts it at #42,308 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 587,915 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bearse surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
583
1 in 587,915
Census rank
#42,308
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
513
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 513 bearers of the surname Bearse in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 42308th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bearse, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.6%) and Two or More Races (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bearse
The surname Bearse traces its origins back to England, where it emerged in the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bere," which meant "barley" or "corn," suggesting that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who grew or traded in these crops.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, which lists a Richard Bere. The Placita de Quo Warranto, a legal record from 1292, also mentions a John de la Bere.
The Bearse surname is closely linked to various place names in England, such as Bere Regis in Dorset, Bere Ferrers in Devon, and Bere in Worcestershire. These locations likely contributed to the development and spread of the surname in different regions.
Notable individuals with the Bearse surname include John Bearse (1555-1625), an English clergyman and writer who authored several religious works, including "A Treatise on the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper." Another early bearer of the name was Thomas Bearse (1602-1673), one of the earliest settlers of Barnstable, Massachusetts, who arrived in the New World in the 1630s.
In the 17th century, Richard Bearse (1625-1701) was a prominent merchant and shipowner in Boston, Massachusetts. His son, Austin Bearse (1651-1717), served as a deacon in the Congregational Church and was involved in local government.
Moving into the 18th century, Joseph Bearse (1720-1799) was a Revolutionary War soldier from Massachusetts who fought in several battles against the British forces.
Throughout its history, the Bearse surname has been associated with various occupations, including agriculture, religion, trade, and military service, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who bore the name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bearse
Among Census respondents with the surname Bearse, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.6%) and Two or More Races (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Bearse bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Bearse surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.3%
- Hispanic or Latino1.6%
- Two or more races1.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bearse surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #42,308 | #42,308 | 0.0% |
| Count | 513 | 513 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bearse bearers went from 513 to 513 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #42,308 to #42,308.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bearse
FAQ
Bearse surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bearse?
The surname Bearse holds position #42,308 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 583 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bearse surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bearse, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.6%) and Two or More Races (1.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.