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

Bonnell, 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 Bonnell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bonnell in America

Bonnell is the 7165th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bonnell surname appeared 4,668 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Bonnell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bonnell 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 Bonnell

The surname Bonnell has its origins in Normandy, France, dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old French word "bon," meaning "good," and the diminutive suffix "-el." This suggests that the name originally referred to someone of good character or a "good fellow."

One of the earliest records of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bonnel." This seminal survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, documented the landholders and properties in England following the Norman Conquest.

In the 12th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Bonel," "Bonell," and "Bonnell," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that time. The Bonnell family is believed to have been among the Norman nobility who accompanied William the Conqueror to England and settled in various parts of the country.

One notable figure with the surname Bonnell was Sir Thomas Bonnell, a wealthy merchant and politician who lived in the 16th century (c. 1535-1603). He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1593 and was a member of Parliament for the City of London.

Another prominent individual was Edward Bonnell (1675-1736), an English clergyman and author. He served as the Archdeacon of Leicester and published several works on theology and church history.

In the 18th century, John Bonnell (1720-1792) was a renowned English scholar and educator. He served as the headmaster of the prestigious Merchant Taylors' School in London and was widely respected for his contributions to education.

The name Bonnell has also been associated with place names, such as Bonnell's Mill in Pennsylvania, named after the Bonnell family who owned a mill in the area during the colonial era.

Additionally, there was a notable family of architects and builders in England during the 19th century, including Samuel Bonnell (1805-1869) and his son, Samuel Bonnell Jr. (1835-1916), who designed and constructed several notable buildings in London and other parts of England.

Throughout history, the surname Bonnell has been found in various regions, including England, France, and parts of North America, reflecting the migration and settlement patterns of those bearing the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bonnell

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

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

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

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