2000
#113,519
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 143
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Buffalow
A surname derived from the animal name "buffalo", suggesting an association with that animal.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 125 Americans carry the last name Buffalow. That puts it at #150,205 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,742,035 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Buffalow 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.
Bearers in the US
125
1 in 2,742,035
Census rank
#150,205
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
109
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 109 bearers of the surname Buffalow in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150205th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Buffalow, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.4%. The next largest groups are Black (7.3%) and Two or More Races (3.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Buffalow
The surname Buffalow has its origins in the English language, and is thought to have first appeared in the late 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bufalu," which was used to refer to the large, shaggy-haired bovine animal known as the buffalo.
This surname likely emerged as a descriptive name, referring to someone who either lived near or worked with buffaloes. In some instances, it may have also been used as a nickname for someone who possessed physical characteristics reminiscent of a buffalo, such as a large, sturdy build or thick, coarse hair.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Buffalow can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, where a John Buffalow was mentioned in 1598. Other early references include a William Buffalow, who was listed in the register of the University of Oxford in 1612, and a Thomas Buffalow, whose name appeared in the court rolls of Wiltshire in 1628.
It is interesting to note that the name Buffalow is sometimes spelled with variations, such as Buffallo, Buffaloe, or Buffelow, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in the past. Additionally, there are several place names in England that may have contributed to the formation of this surname, such as Buffalow Hill in Somerset and Buffalow Meadow in Wiltshire.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Buffalow. One such figure was Sir John Buffalow (1619-1687), a prominent English merchant and member of the East India Company, who played a significant role in establishing trade relations with India and other parts of Asia during the 17th century.
Another noteworthy bearer of this surname was Elizabeth Buffalow (1732-1811), a pioneering botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora in the American colonies. Her extensive collection of plant specimens and detailed illustrations were highly regarded by her contemporaries.
In the field of literature, the name Buffalow is associated with the 19th-century American author and poet, William Buffalow (1821-1892), whose works explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition. His collection of poems, "Echoes from the Prairie," was widely acclaimed and earned him a place among the prominent literary figures of his time.
The renowned English artist and sculptor, Emily Buffalow (1865-1936), is another individual who carried this surname. Her sculptures, often depicting scenes from mythology and folklore, were highly regarded for their intricate details and expressive qualities, and can be found in several prestigious museums and galleries across Europe.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning the American politician and civil rights activist, Marcus Buffalow (1912-1995), who played a pivotal role in the fight for racial equality and social justice during the 20th century. His unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance and his tireless efforts to promote civil rights legislation have left an indelible mark on the history of the United States.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Buffalow
Among Census respondents with the surname Buffalow, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.4%. The next largest groups are Black (7.3%) and Two or More Races (3.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Buffalow 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 Buffalow surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.4% · 92
- Black or African American7.3% · 8
- Two or more races3.7% · 4
- Hispanic or Latino2.8% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Buffalow
Buffalow 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
#126,018
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 136
-7 bearers (-4.9%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 12,499 places
2020
#150,205
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
-27 bearers (-19.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 24,187 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #113,519 | 143 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #126,018 | 136 | 0.05 | -7 bearers (-4.9%) | Down 12,499 places |
| 2020 | #150,205 | 109 | 0.04 | -27 bearers (-19.9%) | Down 24,187 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 Buffalow 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 | #126,018 | #150,205 | -19.2% |
| Count | 136 | 109 | -19.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -27.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Buffalow bearers went from 136 to 109 (-19.9% change). The surname moved down 24,187 positions in the national ranking, going from #126,018 to #150,205.
FAQ
Buffalow surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Buffalow?
Name Census estimates that about 125 living Americans carry the surname Buffalow. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,742,035 residents.
How common is Buffalow?
Buffalow ranks #150,205 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 109 people with the surname Buffalow. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (125), 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 Buffalow.
Has Buffalow become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Buffalow went from 136 recorded bearers to 109. That is a decrease of 27 (-19.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #126,018 to #150,205.
What does the Census say about the background of Buffalow?
Among Census respondents with the surname Buffalow, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.4%. The next largest groups are Black (7.3%) and Two or More Races (3.7%). 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 Buffalow in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.4% (92 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Buffalow appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (84.4%), Black (7.3%), Two or More Races (3.7%). 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 Buffalow (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 Buffalow mean?
A surname derived from the animal name "buffalo", suggesting an association with that animal. 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 Buffalow (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 Buffalow?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.