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

Booth, 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 Booth surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Booth in America

Booth is the 697th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Booth surname appeared 49,402 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 17 people would have the surname Booth.

We can also compare 2010 data for Booth 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 Booth

The surname Booth is an English habitational name derived from the Old English word "bothy," meaning a small dwelling or hut. It originated in the county of Lancashire in the northwest of England, where the name was first recorded.

The name Booth can be traced back to the 12th century, with early records showing variations such as Botha, Bothe, and Botte. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166, where a person named Richard de Buth is mentioned.

The name Booth also appears in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey commissioned by William the Conqueror to record land ownership in England. The Domesday Book lists several places with names derived from "bothy," indicating the presence of early Booth families in various parts of the country.

During the Middle Ages, the Booth family became prominent landowners in Lancashire, with several branches holding manors and estates in the region. One notable member was Sir George Booth (1622-1684), a Parliamentarian during the English Civil War who later became a Royalist supporter.

Another famous bearer of the name was John Wilkes Booth (1838-1865), the American actor and assassin who fatally shot President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Despite his infamous act, the Booth family has a long and distinguished history in the United States, with many members achieving success in various fields.

Other notable individuals with the surname Booth include:

1. William Booth (1829-1912), the founder of the Salvation Army
2. Edwin Booth (1833-1893), a renowned American actor and brother of John Wilkes Booth
3. Cherie Booth (born 1954), a British barrister and wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair
4. Wilbur Booth (1892-1983), an American baseball player and manager
5. Shirley Booth (1898-1992), an American actress known for her roles in film, television, and theater.

The surname Booth has a rich history, spanning centuries and continents, and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, from landowners and actors to religious leaders and athletes.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Booth

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

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

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

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