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

Boulton, 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 Boulton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Boulton in America

Boulton is the 12782nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Boulton surname appeared 2,414 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Boulton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Boulton 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 Boulton

The surname Boulton originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words 'bol' meaning a dwelling and 'tun' meaning an enclosure or farmstead. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a prominent building or fortification.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as 'Boleton'. This reference suggests that the name was already established in parts of England prior to the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, variations of the name such as 'Boulton', 'Bolleton', and 'Boulton' began appearing in various historical records and charters across different counties in England, including Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire.

A notable early bearer of the name was Sir Matthew Boulton (1728-1809), a renowned English manufacturer and partner of James Watt in the industrial revolution. He played a pivotal role in the development of the steam engine and established the Soho Manufactory in Birmingham.

Another prominent figure was Samuel Boulton (1681-1737), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works, including "A Complete Body of Divinity" published in 1720.

In the 16th century, the name Boulton was associated with the village of Boulton in Derbyshire, which was sometimes spelled as 'Bowlton' or 'Boulton'. This place name likely contributed to the further spread and establishment of the surname.

During the 17th century, Richard Boulton (1615-1672) was a notable English clergyman who served as a Canon of Canterbury Cathedral and was known for his religious writings.

In the 18th century, Matthew Boulton (1703-1778), an English manufacturer and entrepreneur, founded the Soho Manufactory in Birmingham, which produced a wide range of products including buttons, buckles, and silverware.

These examples illustrate the long history and prominence of the Boulton surname in England, particularly in the areas of industry, religion, and literature, spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Boulton

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

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

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

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