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

Buff, 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 Buff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Buff in America

Buff is the 12153rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Buff surname appeared 2,564 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 Buff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Buff 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 Buff

The surname "BUFF" originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "buffe," which means "to puff or blow," likely referring to the physical appearance or occupation of the original bearer.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name "BUFF" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1199, where a person named Willelmus Buffe is listed. Another early reference is in the Curia Regis Rolls of Worcestershire from 1201, which mentions a Thomas le Buff.

The surname "BUFF" is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where a John le Buff is recorded. This document provides valuable insight into the distribution of surnames in medieval England.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "le Buf" and "le Buffere," suggesting variations in spelling and pronunciation. One notable individual from this period is John le Buff, a merchant from Bristol mentioned in the borough records of 1349.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname "BUFF" became more widespread across England. Notable bearers include Sir William Buff (1557-1624), a wealthy merchant and alderman of London, and John Buff (1605-1677), a prominent Puritan minister from Yorkshire.

Other historical figures with the surname "BUFF" include:

1. Thomas Buff (1670-1735), an English clergyman and author from Gloucestershire.
2. Elizabeth Buff (1725-1804), a British diarist and writer from Wiltshire.
3. George Buff (1789-1868), an English architect and surveyor from Norfolk.
4. James Buff (1805-1877), a British explorer and naturalist who traveled extensively in Africa.
5. Sir Walter Buff (1842-1912), a British diplomat and colonial administrator who served in India and South Africa.

The surname "BUFF" has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Buff Hill in Gloucestershire and Buff Farm in Hampshire, further reflecting its historical roots and geographic distribution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Buff

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

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

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

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