Besch
An occupational surname derived from the Old German word "busc" meaning bush or shrub.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,234 Americans carry the last name Besch. That puts it at #23,943 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.36 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 277,759 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Besch 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
1.2K
1 in 277,759
Census rank
#23,943
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,054 bearers of the surname Besch in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.36 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 23943rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Besch, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.0%) and Two or More Races (0.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Besch
The surname BESCH is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "beschat," meaning "woods" or "forest." It likely originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near or worked in a wooded area.
The earliest recorded instances of the BESCH surname date back to the 13th century in various regions of present-day Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony. In the 14th century, the name appears in various manuscripts and records, including the "Stadtbuch von Lübeck" (City Book of Lübeck) from 1350, where a certain "Henning Besch" is mentioned.
During the medieval period, the surname BESCH was often associated with individuals who worked as foresters, woodsmen, or charcoal burners. One notable example is Johannes Besch, a prominent forester and landowner who lived in the region of Thuringia in the early 15th century.
As the surname spread across German-speaking regions, it underwent various spelling variations, including Besch, Bäsch, Baesch, and Beesch. Some of these variations were influenced by local dialects and regional pronunciations.
In the 16th century, the BESCH surname gained prominence with the scholar and humanist Johannes Besch (1480-1538), a renowned theologian and professor of Hebrew at the University of Basel. His works on biblical exegesis and Hebrew grammar were widely influential during the Protestant Reformation.
Another notable figure was Andreas Besch (1542-1614), a German composer and organist who served as the court Kapellmeister in Graz, Austria. His compositions, including motets and masses, were highly regarded during the Renaissance period.
In the 18th century, Johann Georg Besch (1718-1792) was a prominent German architect and master builder who designed several churches and public buildings in the Baroque style, notably the St. Lorenz Church in Nuremberg.
During the 19th century, the BESCH surname was associated with several individuals who made significant contributions in various fields. For instance, Friedrich Wilhelm Besch (1809-1884) was a German botanist and explorer who conducted extensive research on the flora of South America.
Additionally, Karl Besch (1829-1902) was a German painter and illustrator known for his realistic depictions of rural life and landscapes in the Düsseldorf School of Painting.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Besch
Among Census respondents with the surname Besch, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.0%) and Two or More Races (0.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Besch 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 Besch surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.6%
- Hispanic or Latino1.0%
- Two or more races0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Besch 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 | #23,943 | #23,943 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,054 | 1,054 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.36 | 0.36 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Besch bearers went from 1,054 to 1,054 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #23,943 to #23,943.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Besch
FAQ
Besch surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Besch?
The surname Besch holds position #23,943 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,234 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.36 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Besch surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Besch, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.0%) and Two or More Races (0.5%). 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.