Bettis
Derived from a diminutive of Bartholomew, meaning "son of Bette," likely referring to a notable ancestor with that name.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,889 Americans carry the last name Bettis. That puts it at #5,829 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.01 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 49,754 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bettis 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
6.9K
1 in 49,754
Census rank
#5,829
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,931 bearers of the surname Bettis in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.01 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5829th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bettis, the largest self-reported group is White at 70.5%. The next largest groups are Black (23.7%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bettis
The surname BETTIS is of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "bett", meaning a "bet" or "wager". It is likely that the name originally referred to someone who was a habitual gambler or bettor.
The earliest known record of the surname BETTIS dates back to the 13th century in the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is believed that the name may have originated from the village of Bettis, which was located near the town of Grantham.
In the Domesday Book, a historical manuscript compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, there is a reference to a landowner named Radulfus de Bettis, who held estates in the county of Nottinghamshire.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname BETTIS is that of John Bettis, who was born in 1412 in the village of Bettis, Lincolnshire. He was a prominent wool merchant and served as a member of the local council.
Sir Henry Bettis (1502-1572) was a renowned English soldier and statesman who served under King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the English Reformation and was knighted for his services to the crown.
Another notable figure was William Bettis (1672-1738), an English explorer and navigator who led several expeditions to the West Indies and the Caribbean. He is credited with discovering and mapping several islands in the region.
In the literary world, Mary Bettis (1789-1865) was an English poet and writer who published a collection of poems titled "The Garland of Love" in 1825.
Robert Bettis (1823-1892) was an American businessman and industrialist who founded the Bettis Manufacturing Company, which produced iron and steel products in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Throughout history, the BETTIS surname has been recorded with various spellings, such as Bettys, Bettyes, and Bettes, reflecting the regional variations and spelling conventions of the time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bettis
Among Census respondents with the surname Bettis, the largest self-reported group is White at 70.5%. The next largest groups are Black (23.7%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Bettis 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 Bettis surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White70.5%
- Black or African American23.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Two or more races2.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bettis 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 | #5,829 | #5,829 | 0.0% |
| Count | 5,931 | 5,931 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.01 | 2.01 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bettis bearers went from 5,931 to 5,931 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #5,829 to #5,829.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bettis
FAQ
Bettis surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bettis?
The surname Bettis holds position #5,829 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 6,889 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.01 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bettis surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bettis, the largest self-reported group is White at 70.5%. The next largest groups are Black (23.7%) and Hispanic (2.4%). 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.