Bostwick
A habitational surname derived from places in England meaning "dwelling place by a forest clearing."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,244 Americans carry the last name Bostwick. That puts it at #7,393 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.53 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 65,361 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bostwick surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.2K
1 in 65,361
Census rank
#7,393
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,502 bearers of the surname Bostwick in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.53 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7393rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bostwick, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Black (3.5%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bostwick
The surname Bostwick has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bosc" meaning bush or thicket, and "wic" meaning a dwelling or farm. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a bushy or wooded area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1197, where a William de Bosco is mentioned. This is likely an early spelling variation of the name Bostwick.
In the 13th century, the name appears in the Feet of Fines for Essex, a collection of legal records. A certain Ranulph de Bostewyk is mentioned in these records from 1272. This spelling variation highlights the potential connection between the name and a specific place name.
The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the name Bostwick. However, it does list several place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Bosco in Wiltshire and Bosewrthe in Oxfordshire.
One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Bostwick was Sir John Bostwick, who lived in the 14th century. He served as a Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire in 1348 and 1352.
Another notable figure was Sir Roger Bostwick (1460-1530), who was a prominent landowner and served as Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in 1516.
In the 16th century, the Bostwick family established themselves in Cheshire, where they owned the manor of Bostwick. Arthur Bostwick (1560-1647) was a member of this branch of the family and served as Sheriff of Cheshire in 1620.
During the English Civil War, Sir John Bostwick (1592-1668) was a staunch Royalist and fought for King Charles I. He was knighted for his service in 1642.
In the 18th century, Reverend John Bostwick (1725-1805) was a notable figure. He was a Church of England clergyman who served as the rector of Sittingbourne in Kent.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bostwick
Among Census respondents with the surname Bostwick, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Black (3.5%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Bostwick bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bostwick surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.0%
- Black or African American3.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races2.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bostwick surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,915 | #7,393 | -6.9% |
| Count | 4,476 | 4,502 | 0.6% |
| Per 100K | 1.66 | 1.53 | -7.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Bostwick bearers went from 4,476 to 4,502 (+0.6% change). The surname moved down 478 positions in the national ranking, going from #6,915 to #7,393.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bostwick
FAQ
Bostwick surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bostwick?
The surname Bostwick holds position #7,393 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,244 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.53 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bostwick surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bostwick, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Black (3.5%) and Hispanic (2.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.