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

Borden, 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 Borden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Borden in America

Borden is the 2352nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Borden surname appeared 15,500 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Borden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Borden 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 Borden

The surname Borden has its origins in the Old English word "bord," meaning "plank" or "board." It was likely an occupational name given to someone who worked with boards, such as a carpenter or a builder. The name may also have derived from various place names containing the word "bord," such as Borden in Kent, England.

The surname first appeared in historic records in the 12th century. One of the earliest documented instances is in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1176, where a Roger de Borden is mentioned. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, also contains several references to places with the name Borden.

In the 13th century, the name was found in various parts of England, including Lincolnshire, Kent, and Somerset. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 record a John de Borden in Lincolnshire and a William de Borden in Kent.

One notable individual with the surname Borden was Sir John Borden (c.1394-1476), a wealthy English landowner and Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire in 1426 and 1429. He was also appointed as the Sheriff of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire in 1435.

Another prominent figure was Robert Layton Borden (1854-1937), who served as the eighth Prime Minister of Canada from 1911 to 1920. He led the country during World War I and played a crucial role in the formation of the Canadian Corps.

In the United States, Lizzie Andrew Borden (1860-1927) gained notoriety for being tried and acquitted for the 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts. The case became a subject of enduring public curiosity and inspired numerous works of literature and popular culture.

Gail Borden (1801-1874) was an American surveyor, teacher, and inventor who patented a process for condensing milk in a vacuum, which led to the development of the Borden dairy company.

Sir Robert Laird Borden (1854-1937), mentioned earlier, was also an influential figure in Canadian politics and served as the country's Prime Minister during World War I.

These are just a few notable individuals who have carried the surname Borden throughout history, reflecting its widespread presence and historical significance across various regions and contexts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Borden

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

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

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

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