Biden
A surname derived from the Old English personal name "Bida", meaning "one who requests" or "one who commands".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Biden. That puts it at #110,825 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Biden 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
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#110,825
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
159
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 159 bearers of the surname Biden in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 110825th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Biden, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Biden
The surname Biden is believed to have originated in the English county of Sussex during the early medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "byd" and "denu," which together mean "a valley where byde or birch trees grow." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near such a valley or settlement.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Bidene." This entry refers to a landowner in the village of Bidene, which is now known as Biden in West Sussex. The name is also found in other medieval records from the region, sometimes spelled as "Bydden" or "Byddene."
In the 13th century, there are records of individuals with the surname Biden living in the nearby village of Cuckfield. A document from 1296 mentions a John de Bydden, who was likely a member of a local gentry family.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name appears to have spread beyond Sussex, with records showing Bidens living in various parts of southern England. One notable figure from this period was William Biden (c. 1550-1622), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Hampshire.
In the 18th century, several members of the Biden family were involved in the British colonial efforts in North America. Thomas Biden (1712-1789) was a ship's captain who transported settlers to the Virginia colony, while his nephew, James Biden (1745-1821), served as a soldier during the American Revolutionary War.
Another prominent individual with the surname was Sir John Biden (1785-1859), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in Devon and rose through the ranks to become an admiral in the Royal Navy.
As the centuries progressed, the Biden surname continued to appear in various parts of England, with some families also establishing roots in other parts of the British Isles and across the Atlantic in North America. While the name may have evolved from its Old English origins, it has maintained a strong presence throughout its long history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Biden
Among Census respondents with the surname Biden, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Biden 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 Biden surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.2%
- Two or more races4.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Biden 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 | #110,825 | #110,825 | 0.0% |
| Count | 159 | 159 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Biden bearers went from 159 to 159 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #110,825 to #110,825.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Biden
FAQ
Biden surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Biden?
The surname Biden holds position #110,825 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Biden surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Biden, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.4%). 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.