2000
#9,147
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,279
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.22
Rare Last name
Billy
A surname derived from the French term "billie," meaning a companion or protector.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,650 Americans carry the last name Billy. That puts it at #9,730 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 93,905 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Billy 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Billy with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
3.6K
1 in 93,905
Census rank
#9,730
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,183 bearers of the surname Billy in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9730th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Billy, the largest self-reported group is American Indian/Alaska Native at 41.3%. The next largest groups are White (28.7%) and Black (16.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Billy
The surname Billy has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English bylig, meaning "dwelling" or "homestead." It likely originated as a place name, referring to someone who lived near a particular homestead or settlement.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Billie." This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.
During the medieval period, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Bille, Billie, and Billey. These variations reflect the fluid nature of surname spellings in those times, as they were often based on local dialects and the interpretations of scribes.
In the 13th century, records show a John de Bille residing in Oxfordshire, indicating the name's presence in this region. Similarly, a Robert Bille is mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, further cementing the name's roots in eastern England.
As the surname spread across the country, it became associated with specific places. For example, the village of Billey in Gloucestershire likely derived its name from the Billy surname. This connection between surnames and place names was common in medieval times.
Notable individuals bearing the Billy surname include:
1. William Billy (c. 1500-1568), an English Protestant reformer and Bishop of Winchester during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. Richard Billy (c. 1570-1642), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury during the early Stuart period.
3. Thomas Billy (1654-1723), a renowned English clockmaker whose works are still highly prized by collectors.
4. Robert Billy (1712-1789), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.
5. Jane Billy (1815-1892), a prominent English philanthropist and social reformer who worked tirelessly to improve the living conditions of the poor in London's East End.
Throughout its history, the surname Billy has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in the eastern and southern counties. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, the name continues to be carried forward by families across generations, reflecting the enduring legacy of English surnames.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Billy
Among Census respondents with the surname Billy, the largest self-reported group is American Indian/Alaska Native at 41.3%. The next largest groups are White (28.7%) and Black (16.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Billy 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 Billy surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- American Indian and Alaska Native41.3% · 1,314
- White28.7% · 914
- Black or African American16.3% · 520
- Asian and Pacific Islander4.8% · 152
- Two or more races4.7% · 151
- Hispanic or Latino4.1% · 132
Timeline
Historical Census data for Billy
Billy appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#9,027
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,621
+342 bearers (+10.4%)
Per 100,000 1.23
Rank movement Up 120 places
2020
#9,730
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,183
-438 bearers (-12.1%)
Per 100,000 1.06
Rank movement Down 703 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #9,147 | 3,279 | 1.22 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #9,027 | 3,621 | 1.23 | +342 bearers (+10.4%) | Up 120 places |
| 2020 | #9,730 | 3,183 | 1.06 | -438 bearers (-12.1%) | Down 703 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 Billy 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 | #9,027 | #9,730 | -7.8% |
| Count | 3,621 | 3,183 | -12.1% |
| Per 100K | 1.23 | 1.06 | -13.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Billy bearers went from 3,621 to 3,183 (-12.1% change). The surname moved down 703 positions in the national ranking, going from #9,027 to #9,730.
FAQ
Billy surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Billy?
Name Census estimates that about 3,650 living Americans carry the surname Billy. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 93,905 residents.
How common is Billy?
Billy ranks #9,730 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.06 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,183 people with the surname Billy. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,650), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.06 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.06 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Billy.
Has Billy become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Billy went from 3,621 recorded bearers to 3,183. That is a decrease of 438 (-12.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #9,027 to #9,730.
What does the Census say about the background of Billy?
Among Census respondents with the surname Billy, the largest self-reported group is American Indian/Alaska Native at 41.3%. The next largest groups are White (28.7%) and Black (16.3%). 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?
American Indian/Alaska Native is the largest self-reported group for the surname Billy in the 2020 Census, accounting for 41.3% (1,314 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Billy appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are American Indian/Alaska Native (41.3%), White (28.7%), Black (16.3%). 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 Billy (2000, 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 Billy mean?
A surname derived from the French term "billie," meaning a companion or protector. 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 Billy (1.06 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 Americans have the surname Billy?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.