Bosworth
A locational surname referring to any of several places in England meaning "Bosa's enclosure" in Old English.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,101 Americans carry the last name Bosworth. That puts it at #6,454 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.78 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 56,180 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bosworth 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
6.1K
1 in 56,180
Census rank
#6,454
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,260 bearers of the surname Bosworth in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.78 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6454th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bosworth, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Black (2.5%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bosworth
The surname Bosworth has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "bos" and "worth," meaning "a farm or enclosure where cattle were kept." This suggests that the name originally referred to a location or settlement where cattle farming was a significant activity.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Bosworth can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "Boseworth" and "Boseuurde," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.
One of the earliest known individuals bearing the surname Bosworth was Richard de Bosworth, who was mentioned in records from Leicestershire in the 13th century. Another notable figure was John Bosworth (1789-1876), an English philologist and Anglo-Saxon scholar known for his seminal work, "A Dictionary of the Anglo-Saxon Language."
The name Bosworth is also closely associated with the historic Battle of Bosworth Field, which took place in 1485 and marked the end of the Wars of the Roses. This battle was fought near the village of Market Bosworth in Leicestershire, and the name Bosworth itself is derived from the Old English "Boseworth," meaning "Bosa's enclosure or farm."
Other notable individuals with the surname Bosworth include Joseph Bosworth (1789-1876), an English clergyman and Anglo-Saxon scholar; Newton Bosworth (1805-1856), an American inventor and manufacturer; and Brian Bosworth (born 1965), a former American football player and actor.
Throughout history, the surname Bosworth has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Bosworth Field, Bosworth Hall, and Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, all of which are located in Leicestershire, England. The name has also been spelled in various ways, including Bosworthe, Boswurth, and Boseworth, reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects over time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bosworth
Among Census respondents with the surname Bosworth, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Black (2.5%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Bosworth 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 Bosworth surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.8%
- Black or African American2.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bosworth 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,454 | #6,454 | 0.0% |
| Count | 5,260 | 5,260 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.78 | 1.78 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bosworth bearers went from 5,260 to 5,260 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #6,454 to #6,454.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bosworth
FAQ
Bosworth surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bosworth?
The surname Bosworth holds position #6,454 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 6,101 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.78 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bosworth surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bosworth, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Black (2.5%) and Hispanic (2.2%). 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.