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

Been, 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 Been surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Been in America

Been is the 23354th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Been surname appeared 1,090 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 Been.

We can also compare 2010 data for Been 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 Been

The surname "Been" is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bēon," which means "to be" or "to exist." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive surname, referring to someone's state of being or existence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Been" can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, where a John Been was mentioned in 1572. Another early reference is from the records of St. Michael's Church in Coventry, Warwickshire, where a William Been was recorded in 1598.

While the surname "Been" does not appear in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, there are records of various place names that may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time. For instance, the village of Beenham in Berkshire and the town of Bean in Kent could have contributed to the development of the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname "Been" include John Been (1592-1658), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Fressingfield in Suffolk. Another prominent figure was Sir Edward Been (1616-1673), a Member of Parliament for Southwark during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, Thomas Been (1735-1802) was a renowned engraver and printmaker from London, known for his intricate landscapes and architectural prints. James Been (1763-1844), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, was also a notable figure during this period.

Moving into the 19th century, we find William Been (1829-1892), a prominent architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the London area, including the iconic St. Pancras Station.

While the surname "Been" may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Been

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

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

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

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