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

Boatswain, 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 Boatswain surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Boatswain in America

Boatswain is the 84463rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Boatswain surname appeared 222 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 Boatswain.

We can also compare 2010 data for Boatswain 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 Boatswain

The surname "BOATSWAIN" originated in England during the medieval period. It derives from the Old English word "batswegen," which referred to a person who was responsible for managing and commanding a ship's crew. This occupational name was given to individuals who held the position of boatswain or "swain" on boats and ships.

The earliest recorded usage of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166, where a person named Walter le Batesweyn is mentioned. Other early spellings include Bateswein, Bateswayn, and Bateswan. The name is also found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I.

One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Sir John Boatswain, a 14th-century English naval commander who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He played a significant role in several naval battles, including the Battle of Sluys in 1340.

In the 15th century, the surname appears in various records, such as the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from the Paston family in Norfolk. One notable figure from this period was William Boatswain, a merchant and ship owner from Bristol, who lived from around 1420 to 1490.

During the 16th century, the surname continued to be associated with maritime professions. Thomas Boatswain, born in 1520, was a renowned navigator and explorer who accompanied Sir Francis Drake on his voyages to the West Indies and South America.

Another prominent figure was Captain John Boatswain, who lived from 1585 to 1653. He was an English naval officer and later became a member of the Virginia Company, playing a significant role in the early colonization of Virginia in North America.

In the 17th century, the surname Boatswain was also found in various parish records and court documents across England. One individual of note was Richard Boatswain, a merchant and shipowner from London, who was born in 1632 and was involved in the lucrative trade with the East Indies.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Boatswain remained closely tied to maritime occupations and communities, though it also spread to other professions and regions as people migrated and families branched out.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Boatswain

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

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

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

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