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

Bi, 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 Bi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bi in America

Bi is the 18971st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bi surname appeared 1,438 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 Bi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bi 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 Bi

The surname "Bi" is believed to have originated in Italy, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Italian word "bigio," which means "gray" or "pale-colored." This could suggest that the name was initially a descriptive nickname given to someone with a pale complexion or gray hair.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in a document from the city of Bologna, dated 1287, which mentions a certain "Petrus Bi." This suggests that the name was already established in the northern Italian region during that time period.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in records from the town of Siena, where a family by the name of Bi was documented as being involved in the textile trade. This provides evidence that the name had spread to other parts of Italy and was associated with a specific occupation.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure bearing the surname Bi was the Italian artist and architect, Bartolomeo Bi (1445-1521). He is best known for his work on the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence and is considered a significant figure in the transition from Gothic to Renaissance architecture.

Another prominent individual with the Bi surname was the 17th-century Italian mathematician and astronomer, Giovanni Domenico Bi (1625-1698). He made important contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and is remembered for his work on the elliptical orbits of planets.

In the 19th century, the name appeared in records from the region of Piedmont, where a family by the name of Bi was documented as owning vineyards and producing wine. This suggests that the surname had become associated with the agricultural industry in certain parts of Italy.

Elsewhere in Europe, the surname Bi also appeared in various spellings, such as "Bye" in England and "Bey" in Germany. However, these variations are believed to have different origins and are not directly related to the Italian surname Bi.

It is worth noting that the name "Bi" shares similarities with the Old Norse word "bjarg," which means "rock" or "cliff." This could indicate a possible connection to Scandinavian origins, but there is little evidence to support this theory definitively.

Overall, the surname "Bi" has a rich history rooted in Italy, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. Throughout the centuries, it has been associated with various occupations, artistic and scientific achievements, and even agricultural practices in different regions of the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bi

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

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

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

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