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

Bonnie, 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 Bonnie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bonnie in America

Bonnie is the 27514th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bonnie surname appeared 876 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 Bonnie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bonnie 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 Bonnie

The surname Bonnie is derived from the French word "bon" meaning "good". It originated in France during the Middle Ages, particularly in the northern regions. The name was likely initially a nickname bestowed upon individuals with a cheerful or amiable disposition.

In England, the surname Bonnie can be traced back to the 11th century, with records indicating its presence in the Domesday Book of 1086. This historic document was commissioned by William the Conqueror and served as a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership across England and parts of Wales.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bonnie can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1166, where a reference is made to a certain Willelmus Bonnius. The name also appears in various medieval charters and legal documents from different regions of England, such as Lincolnshire and Oxfordshire.

During the 13th century, the surname Bonnie was closely associated with the village of Bonnyton, located in the Scottish Borders region. The name of this settlement likely derived from the French word "bon", suggesting a connection between the place name and the surname.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Bonnie, one can mention Sir John Bonnie (c. 1480-1545), an English politician and member of the House of Commons during the reign of Henry VIII. Another prominent figure was William Bonnie (1561-1628), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Principal of the University of Edinburgh.

In the literary world, Robert Bonnie (1671-1719) was a Scottish poet and author known for his poignant works that reflected the cultural and societal landscape of his time. His most celebrated work, "The Gentle Shepherd," is considered a seminal piece of Scottish pastoral literature.

During the 18th century, the Bonnie surname gained prominence in the American colonies, with several notable individuals bearing this name. Among them was James Bonnie (1733-1792), a Virginia planter and politician who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress.

Another noteworthy figure was Samuel Bonnie (1755-1835), an American Revolutionary War soldier and politician from Pennsylvania. He played a significant role in the Battle of Germantown and later served as a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bonnie

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

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

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

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