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

Bellgraph, 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 Bellgraph surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bellgraph in America

Bellgraph is the 126018th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bellgraph surname appeared 136 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 Bellgraph.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bellgraph 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 Bellgraph

The surname BELLGRAPH finds its origins in the northern regions of England, specifically in the county of Yorkshire, during the late 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "bell" and "graff," which together translate to "bell grove" or "bell copse." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived near a wooded area or settlement known for its bell tower or church with a prominent bell.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BELLGRAPH name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a Robert Bellegrave is mentioned as a resident of the village of Knaresborough. This spelling variation, "Bellegrave," is likely an early rendition of the modern BELLGRAPH form.

The BELLGRAPH surname also appears in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire, a legal record from 1484, which documents a land transaction involving a John Belgrave, potentially a descendant of the aforementioned Robert Bellegrave. This connection to the Knaresborough area suggests that the BELLGRAPH family may have had roots in this region for several generations.

During the 16th century, the BELLGRAPH name gained prominence with the birth of Sir Edward Bellgrave (1528-1589), a notable English soldier and Member of Parliament. Sir Edward served as a commander in the English army during the Anglo-Spanish War and was knighted for his military service in 1586.

Another notable figure bearing the BELLGRAPH name was William Belgrave (1660-1722), an English clergyman and author who served as the Dean of Chichester Cathedral. His works included several theological treatises and sermons published in the early 18th century.

In the realm of literature, the BELLGRAPH surname is associated with the English novelist and playwright, Mary Bellgrave (1795-1871). Her most notable works include the historical novel "The Heir of Arundel" and the play "The Countess of Salisbury," both published in the 1830s.

While the BELLGRAPH name has roots in Yorkshire, it eventually spread to other parts of England and beyond. For example, the British naval officer and explorer, Captain James Bellgraph (1780-1856), hailed from Cornwall and gained fame for his expeditions to the South Pacific in the early 19th century.

Throughout its history, the BELLGRAPH surname has maintained a connection to its Old English origins, reflecting the linguistic and cultural heritage of its earliest bearers in northern England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bellgraph

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

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

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

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