2000
#118,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 135
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Botwright
An occupational surname referring to a boatwright or boat builder.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 126 Americans carry the last name Botwright. That puts it at #149,446 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,720,273 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Botwright surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Botwright with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
126
1 in 2,720,273
Census rank
#149,446
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
110
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 110 bearers of the surname Botwright in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 149446th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Botwright, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.3%) and Black (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Botwright
The surname Botwright has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bot" meaning a boat and "wright" meaning a craftsman or maker. This suggests that the name initially referred to a person who crafted or repaired boats for a living.
During the Middle Ages, the Botwright name appeared in various historical records and documents. One such reference can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mentions a certain John le Botwright. This early record provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during that era.
As time passed, the name evolved in its spelling variations, including Botwright, Boatwright, Botwryght, and Botewryght. These variations reflect the fluidity of spelling conventions in earlier times, as well as regional differences in pronunciation and written forms.
One notable historical figure bearing the Botwright surname was William Botwright, born in 1554 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a renowned shipbuilder and naval architect, contributing significantly to the development of English shipbuilding during the Elizabethan era.
Another prominent individual was Thomas Botwright, born in 1688 in Kent, England. He was a skilled carpenter and joiner, renowned for his intricate woodwork and craftsmanship. His works can still be found in several historic buildings and churches throughout the region.
In the 18th century, the Botwright name gained further recognition with John Botwright, born in 1712 in Shropshire, England. He was a respected boat builder and pioneered innovative techniques in boat construction, contributing to the advancements in maritime transportation.
Elizabeth Botwright, born in 1795 in Warwickshire, England, was a notable figure in her own right. She was a skilled artist and painter, known for her intricate maritime scenes and depictions of boats and ships.
Another individual of historical significance was Robert Botwright, born in 1832 in Hampshire, England. He was a renowned naval architect and shipbuilder, designing and constructing several notable ships for the British Royal Navy during the Victorian era.
While these are just a few examples, the Botwright surname has a rich history deeply rooted in the maritime and craftsmanship traditions of England, with individuals contributing significantly to various fields throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Botwright
Among Census respondents with the surname Botwright, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.3%) and Black (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Botwright bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Botwright surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.1% · 98
- Hispanic or Latino7.3% · 8
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Botwright
Botwright appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#131,379
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 129
-6 bearers (-4.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 12,425 places
2020
#149,446
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
-19 bearers (-14.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 18,067 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #118,954 | 135 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #131,379 | 129 | 0.04 | -6 bearers (-4.4%) | Down 12,425 places |
| 2020 | #149,446 | 110 | 0.04 | -19 bearers (-14.7%) | Down 18,067 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Botwright surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #131,379 | #149,446 | -13.8% |
| Count | 129 | 110 | -14.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -8.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Botwright bearers went from 129 to 110 (-14.7% change). The surname moved down 18,067 positions in the national ranking, going from #131,379 to #149,446.
FAQ
Botwright surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Botwright?
Name Census estimates that about 126 living Americans carry the surname Botwright. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,720,273 residents.
How common is Botwright?
Botwright ranks #149,446 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 110 people with the surname Botwright. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (126), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Botwright.
Has Botwright become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Botwright went from 129 recorded bearers to 110. That is a decrease of 19 (-14.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #131,379 to #149,446.
What does the Census say about the background of Botwright?
Among Census respondents with the surname Botwright, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.3%) and Black (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Botwright in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.1% (98 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Botwright appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (89.1%), Hispanic (7.3%), Black (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Botwright (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Botwright mean?
An occupational surname referring to a boatwright or boat builder. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Botwright (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Botwright?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.