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

Bolter, 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 Bolter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bolter in America

Bolter is the 39117th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bolter surname appeared 563 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 Bolter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bolter 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 Bolter

The surname Bolter is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "bolt," which referred to a type of arrow or crossbow bolt. The name likely referred to an occupation or trade involving the manufacture or use of bolts for archery or warfare.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bolter can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a Robert le Bolter is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Boultere and Boltere, reflecting the linguistic variations of the time. For example, the Calendarium Inquisitionum post Mortem from 1350 mentions a John le Boltere from Worcestershire.

The Bolter surname may also have been influenced by place names or locations associated with the manufacture or use of bolts. For instance, some records suggest a connection to the village of Bolter in Nottinghamshire, which could have contributed to the name's origins.

Notable individuals with the surname Bolter throughout history include:

1. John Bolter (c. 1460-1524), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
2. Edmund Bolter (c. 1550-1620), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.
3. William Bolter (1663-1743), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Callington in Cornwall.
4. James Bolter (1792-1869), an English architect known for designing several churches in London and the surrounding areas.
5. Mary Bolter (1873-1945), an American social reformer and activist who advocated for women's rights and labor laws.

While the Bolter surname has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and emigration. Nevertheless, its origins can be traced back to the occupation or trade involving bolts, reflecting the rich history and etymology of English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bolter

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

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

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

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