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

Belson, 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 Belson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Belson in America

Belson is the 31211th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Belson surname appeared 743 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 Belson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Belson 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 Belson

The surname Belson is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bel" and "tun," translating to "bell town" or "bell manor." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place where bell-making or a bell tower was prominent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Belson can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, the great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. Here, the name is spelled as "Belsone," referring to a landowner or tenant in the county of Lincolnshire.

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records across England, with variations in spelling such as "Belsoune," "Belsoun," and "Belson." One notable individual from this era was Robert Belson, a merchant and landowner in the city of York, born around 1240.

In the 14th century, the name Belson continued to be documented in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. A prominent figure bearing this surname was Sir William Belson, a knight and military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France, born in 1325 and died in 1397.

The 16th century saw the emergence of John Belson, a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Dean of Lincoln Cathedral from 1554 to 1559. Born in 1510, he was a prominent figure during the English Reformation and played a role in the transition from Catholicism to Protestantism.

In the 18th century, the Belson name gained further recognition with the birth of Thomas Belson, a renowned architect and civil engineer. Born in 1745, he was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of several notable buildings and infrastructure projects across England.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Belson, a pioneering educator and women's rights advocate born in 1785. She established several schools for girls and advocated for improved access to education for women, making significant contributions to the early feminist movement in England.

Throughout its history, the surname Belson has been associated with various professions and fields, including academia, religion, military service, architecture, and civil engineering. While its origins may be rooted in a specific location, the name has since spread across England and beyond, carried by individuals who have left their mark on society in various ways.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Belson

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

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

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

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