2000
#127,948
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 123
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Belteton
A locational surname derived from a place name in England.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 278 Americans carry the last name Belteton. That puts it at #83,650 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,232,929 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Belteton surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
278
1 in 1,232,929
Census rank
#83,650
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
242
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 242 bearers of the surname Belteton in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 83650th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Belteton, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.0%. The next largest groups are White (4.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Belteton
The surname Belteton originated in England during the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "beltan" meaning "to gird" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." This suggests that the name may have referred to a person who lived in a fortified or enclosed settlement.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a "Radulfus de Belteton" as holding lands in the village of Beltetun, located in what is now Oxfordshire.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Belteton, Beltetun, and Belton, reflecting the evolution of spelling conventions over time. During this period, the Belteton family established itself as a respected landed gentry, with several members holding prominent positions in local government and the clergy.
One notable figure was Sir John Belteton, who was born in 1298 and served as a knight in the campaigns of Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He was awarded lands and titles for his valiant service and is mentioned in several contemporary chronicles.
Another significant figure was William Belteton, born in 1415, who was a wealthy wool merchant and served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1472. His successful business dealings and civic involvement contributed to the family's standing and influence in the region.
In the 16th century, the Belteton name gained further renown with the birth of Elizabeth Belteton (1554-1619), a renowned scholar and translator who was fluent in several languages, including Greek and Latin. Her published works on classical literature were highly regarded during the Renaissance period.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, the Belteton family supported the Royalist cause, with several members serving in the King's army. Captain Thomas Belteton (1610-1677) was noted for his bravery in battle and was later granted lands in recognition of his loyalty.
As the centuries passed, the Belteton name continued to be associated with various professions and pursuits, including law, academia, and the arts. One notable figure from the 18th century was Sir Richard Belteton (1722-1798), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including St. Paul's Church in Covent Garden.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Belteton
Among Census respondents with the surname Belteton, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.0%. The next largest groups are White (4.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Belteton bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Belteton surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino95.0% · 230
- White4.5% · 11
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Belteton
Belteton appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#89,403
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 207
+84 bearers (+68.3%)
Per 100,000 0.07
Rank movement Up 38,545 places
2020
#83,650
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 242
+35 bearers (+16.9%)
Per 100,000 0.08
Rank movement Up 5,753 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #127,948 | 123 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #89,403 | 207 | 0.07 | +84 bearers (+68.3%) | Up 38,545 places |
| 2020 | #83,650 | 242 | 0.08 | +35 bearers (+16.9%) | Up 5,753 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Belteton surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #89,403 | #83,650 | 6.4% |
| Count | 207 | 242 | 16.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.08 | 15.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Belteton bearers went from 207 to 242 (+16.9% change). The surname moved up 5,753 positions in the national ranking, going from #89,403 to #83,650.
FAQ
Belteton surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Belteton?
Name Census estimates that about 278 living Americans carry the surname Belteton. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,232,929 residents.
How common is Belteton?
Belteton ranks #83,650 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 242 people with the surname Belteton. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (278), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.08 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.08 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Belteton.
Has Belteton become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Belteton went from 207 recorded bearers to 242. That is an increase of 35 (+16.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #89,403 to #83,650.
What does the Census say about the background of Belteton?
Among Census respondents with the surname Belteton, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.0%. The next largest groups are White (4.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Belteton in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.0% (230 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Belteton appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (95.0%), White (4.5%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Belteton (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Belteton mean?
A locational surname derived from a place name in England. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Belteton (0.08 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Belteton?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people are called Belteton at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.