Billingham
A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Billingham in County Durham, England.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 480 Americans carry the last name Billingham. That puts it at #50,564 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.14 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 714,072 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Billingham 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
480
1 in 714,072
Census rank
#50,564
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
413
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 413 bearers of the surname Billingham in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.14 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 50564th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Billingham, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Billingham
The surname Billingham has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Northumberland. It is a locational name derived from the town of Billingham, which is situated near the River Tees. The name itself is believed to come from the Old English words "bille," meaning a hill or ridge, and "inga," meaning a dweller or follower, combined with "ham," meaning a homestead or village.
Billingham is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property rights commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Billinghame," referring to the village in Northumberland.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Billingham was Robert de Billingham, who lived in the 13th century and was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland in 1230. Another early reference is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, which mentions a John de Billingham.
In the 15th century, the surname appeared as "Byllingeham" in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the Paston family in Norfolk. This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during that period.
A notable figure with the surname Billingham was Sir Robert Billingham, who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1484. He was a prominent merchant and influential figure in the city's affairs during the reign of Richard III.
Another prominent individual was Thomas Billingham, a Puritan minister who lived from 1604 to 1682. He was known for his fiery sermons and was a vocal critic of religious persecution during the English Civil War.
In the 18th century, John Billingham (1721-1806) was a renowned architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London, including the Foundling Hospital and the Royal Exchange.
The name Billingham has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Billingham in County Durham and Billingham near Stockton-on-Tees, both of which likely contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname in those areas.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Billingham
Among Census respondents with the surname Billingham, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Billingham 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 Billingham surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.8%
- Hispanic or Latino1.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Billingham 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 | #50,564 | #50,564 | 0.0% |
| Count | 413 | 413 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Billingham bearers went from 413 to 413 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #50,564 to #50,564.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Billingham
FAQ
Billingham surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Billingham?
The surname Billingham holds position #50,564 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 480 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.14 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Billingham surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Billingham, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.4%). 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.