Bolger
An Irish occupational surname derived from the Old English word "bolgere," meaning "bulge" or "belly," likely referring to a rotund person.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,942 Americans carry the last name Bolger. That puts it at #9,598 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.15 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 86,949 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bolger 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
3.9K
1 in 86,949
Census rank
#9,598
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,385 bearers of the surname Bolger in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.15 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9598th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bolger, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.2%. The next largest groups are Black (4.8%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bolger
The surname Bolger is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words "bol" meaning a rounded hill or knoll, and "ger" meaning a spear. It is believed to have originated in the early medieval period in various parts of England, particularly in Derbyshire, where it was first recorded as a locational surname.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bolger can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Bolgera" in the county of Derbyshire. This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a valuable record of landowners and their holdings in England at that time.
During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Bolger," "Bolgere," and "Bolgehire," reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. One notable early bearer of the name was Walter Bolger, a landowner in Derbyshire, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1207.
The Bolger surname was also associated with several place names in England, such as Bolger's Hill in Derbyshire and Bolger's Green in Staffordshire. These place names likely derive from individuals named Bolger who owned or resided in those areas.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Bolger. One of the earliest was Sir John Bolger (c. 1340-1410), a prominent English soldier and landowner who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was knighted for his service to King Richard II.
Another notable Bolger was Richard Bolger (1585-1651), an English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers in London. He was involved in the early colonization efforts in America and was one of the original investors in the Massachusetts Bay Company.
In the 19th century, the Bolger surname gained prominence with the Irish-born politician and journalist, John Bolger (1824-1899), who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in Australia and was a prominent advocate for Irish nationalism.
The name Bolger also has literary connections, with the character Frodo Baggins' cousin Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger appearing in J.R.R. Tolkien's famous novels "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Fellowship of the Ring."
Another notable bearer of the Bolger surname was John Bolger (1917-2010), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Bolger Vision Beyond Print Company, a leading producer of Braille books and materials for the visually impaired.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bolger
Among Census respondents with the surname Bolger, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.2%. The next largest groups are Black (4.8%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Bolger 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 Bolger surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.2%
- Black or African American4.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.1%
- Two or more races0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bolger 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #9,079 | #9,598 | -5.7% |
| Count | 3,309 | 3,385 | 2.3% |
| Per 100K | 1.23 | 1.15 | -6.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Bolger bearers went from 3,309 to 3,385 (+2.3% change). The surname moved down 519 positions in the national ranking, going from #9,079 to #9,598.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bolger
FAQ
Bolger surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bolger?
The surname Bolger holds position #9,598 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 3,942 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.15 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bolger surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bolger, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.2%. The next largest groups are Black (4.8%) and Hispanic (2.1%). 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.