2010
#156,044
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 104
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Betsy
A surname potentially derived from the diminutive form of Elizabeth (Betsy/Betty).
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 122 Americans carry the last name Betsy. That puts it at #152,339 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,809,462 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Betsy 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
122
1 in 2,809,462
Census rank
#152,339
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
106
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 106 bearers of the surname Betsy in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152339th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Betsy, the largest self-reported group is White at 50.9%. The next largest groups are Black (39.6%) and Hispanic (5.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Betsy
The surname "BETSY" is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be a variant of the name "Elizabeth," which itself derives from the Hebrew name "Elisheva," meaning "my God is an oath" or "my God is abundance."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "BETSY" can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, England, where a certain "Betsy Smithe" was baptized in 1587. This early spelling variation highlights the fluid nature of surnames during that period, with many names being adapted and altered over time.
In the 17th century, the name "BETSY" appeared in various historical documents, such as the court records of the Exchequer of Pleas in London, where a "Betsy Wilkins" was mentioned in a case from 1643. This suggests that the name had gained some popularity among the English population by that time.
One notable individual bearing the surname "BETSY" was Elizabeth Betsy Ross (1752-1836), an American upholsterer credited with sewing the first American flag, though the veracity of this claim has been debated by historians. Regardless, her name has become synonymous with the early days of the United States.
Another prominent figure was Betsy Trotwood, a fictional character from Charles Dickens' novel "David Copperfield," published in 1850. Trotwood, an eccentric and formidable aunt of the protagonist, became a beloved literary figure and exemplified the strength of character often associated with those bearing the name "BETSY."
In the realm of literature, Betsy Byars (1928-2020) was an American author of children's books, best known for her novel "The Summer of the Swans," which won the Newbery Medal in 1971. Her works explored themes of family, friendship, and growing up, resonating with generations of young readers.
Moving into the 20th century, Betsy Jolas (born 1926) is a French-American composer and teacher who has made significant contributions to the world of contemporary classical music. Her works have been performed by renowned orchestras and ensembles around the globe, and she has received numerous accolades for her innovative compositions.
These are but a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname "BETSY" throughout history, each contributing to its rich tapestry and legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Betsy
Among Census respondents with the surname Betsy, the largest self-reported group is White at 50.9%. The next largest groups are Black (39.6%) and Hispanic (5.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Betsy 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 Betsy surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White50.9% · 54
- Black or African American39.6% · 42
- Hispanic or Latino5.7% · 6
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.9% · 2
- Two or more races1.9% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Betsy
Betsy appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#152,339
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
+2 bearers (+1.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 3,705 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #156,044 | 104 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #152,339 | 106 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.9%) | Up 3,705 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 Betsy 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 | #156,044 | #152,339 | 2.4% |
| Count | 104 | 106 | 1.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -11.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Betsy bearers went from 104 to 106 (+1.9% change). The surname moved up 3,705 positions in the national ranking, going from #156,044 to #152,339.
FAQ
Betsy surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Betsy?
Name Census estimates that about 122 living Americans carry the surname Betsy. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,809,462 residents.
How common is Betsy?
Betsy ranks #152,339 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 106 people with the surname Betsy. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (122), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Betsy.
Has Betsy become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Betsy went from 104 recorded bearers to 106. That is an increase of 2 (+1.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #156,044 to #152,339.
What does the Census say about the background of Betsy?
Among Census respondents with the surname Betsy, the largest self-reported group is White at 50.9%. The next largest groups are Black (39.6%) and Hispanic (5.7%). 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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Betsy in the 2020 Census, accounting for 50.9% (54 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Betsy appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (50.9%), Black (39.6%), Hispanic (5.7%). 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 Betsy (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 Betsy mean?
A surname potentially derived from the diminutive form of Elizabeth (Betsy/Betty). 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 Betsy (0.04 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 Betsy?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people are called Betsy at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.