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

Box, 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 Box surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Box in America

Box is the 3538th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Box surname appeared 10,098 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Box.

We can also compare 2010 data for Box 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 Box

The surname Box originates from England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "box," which referred to a small container or receptacle made of wood or metal. The name may have initially been a occupational surname, given to those who made or sold boxes.

The name Box can be found in various historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is listed as "le Boxmakere" in Oxfordshire. This early reference suggests that the name was associated with the box-making trade at that time.

In the 14th century, the surname Box appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where it was recorded as "Boxe." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Box was John Box, who was born around 1470 in Somersetshire, England. He was a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Bishop of Hereford from 1535 until his death in 1537.

Another notable figure with the surname Box was Ralph Box, a 16th-century English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Dunwich, Suffolk, in 1588.

In the 17th century, the name Box was associated with various place names in England, such as Boxley in Kent and Boxford in Berkshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in certain regions.

Thomas Box, born in 1609 in Wiltshire, was a prominent figure during the English Civil War. He served as a captain in the Parliamentarian forces and played a role in the siege of Taunton in 1645.

Mary Box, born in 1753 in Gloucestershire, was a notable philanthropist and activist who advocated for the education of women and the abolition of slavery. She founded several schools and supported various charitable causes during her lifetime.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Box continued to be found in various parts of England, with notable individuals such as William Box (1779-1869), a successful businessman and landowner from Somersetshire, and Emily Box (1819-1890), a Victorian-era author and poet from Gloucestershire.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Box

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

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

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

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