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

Bone, 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 Bone surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bone in America

Bone is the 3350th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bone surname appeared 10,692 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Bone.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bone 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 Bone

The surname Bone is of English origin and derives from the Old English word "ban", meaning bone. It is believed to have originated as an occupational surname, likely referring to a bone-worker or someone involved in the processing or trade of bones.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Bone can be traced back to the late 12th century in various English counties, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 contain references to individuals bearing the name, such as Walter le Bone in Derbyshire and Thomas Bone in Oxfordshire.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Bone was John Bone, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. Another early record is that of William Bone, whose name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

The Bone surname is also found in early Scottish records, suggesting that it may have migrated from England to Scotland at some point. One of the earliest known Scottish bearers of the name was John Bone, who was recorded in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1455.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Bone. One of the most prominent was Henry Bone (1755-1834), an English enamel painter and enameller who was appointed Enamel Painter to King George III in 1811. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Bone (1842-1922), a British civil engineer and contractor who was involved in the construction of several major railway projects in India.

Other historical figures with the surname Bone include Robert Bone (1570-1637), an English clergyman and author, and David William Bone (1807-1892), a Scottish marine painter known for his seascapes. Additionally, Musgrave Bone (1876-1936) was a British architect and designer who played a significant role in the Arts and Crafts movement.

While the surname Bone may have originated as an occupational name, it has since become a well-established surname found in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English language, reflecting the rich history and diversity of English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bone

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

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

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

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