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

Buffaloe, 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 Buffaloe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Buffaloe in America

Buffaloe is the 26143rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Buffaloe surname appeared 936 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Buffaloe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Buffaloe 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 Buffaloe

The surname "BUFFALOE" is of English origin, originating in the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bufol" or "bufel," which referred to the wild ox or buffalo. This surname likely first arose as a descriptive nickname for someone who bore a resemblance to a buffalo or displayed characteristics associated with the animal.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. Here, the name appears as "Arnaldus Buffel." This early spelling variation highlights the connection to the Old English word for buffalo.

The Buffaloe surname is also mentioned in several historical records from the 14th century, including the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332, where it is recorded as "John Bufflo." This suggests that the name was present in various parts of England during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where a certain "Thomas Buffalowe" is mentioned in a record from 1561. This spelling variation is closer to the modern form of the surname.

One notable individual bearing the Buffaloe surname was John Buffaloe (1611-1675), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Wilby, Norfolk. His works include "A Treatise of Honour and Honourable Quarrels" and "A Remonstrance to the Church and World of his Ground in Separating from the Unwarrantable Things," published in 1661.

Another individual of note was Richard Buffaloe (1762-1824), an English architect who designed several churches and other buildings in the Gothic Revival style. Some of his notable works include St. Peter's Church in Eaton Square, London, and St. Andrew's Church in Holborn.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is that of William Buffaloe (c. 1690-1759), a planter and landowner in Virginia. He was a prominent figure in the colonial era and owned a plantation called "Buffaloe's Old Field" in Nansemond County.

Another notable American with the Buffaloe surname was James Buffaloe (1835-1911), a Confederate soldier during the American Civil War. He served in the 4th Virginia Cavalry and participated in several major battles, including the Battle of Gettysburg.

While the surname "BUFFALOE" is not among the most common surnames today, it has a rich history dating back to medieval England and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Buffaloe

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

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

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

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