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

Buffer, 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 Buffer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Buffer in America

Buffer is the 78821st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Buffer surname appeared 242 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 Buffer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Buffer 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 Buffer

The surname BUFFER is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period, deriving from the Old English word "buffett," meaning "to strike" or "to beat." It is thought that the name was initially given as an occupational surname to a maker or seller of buffets, which were a type of wooden stool or bench.

In the early medieval period, the name BUFFER was predominantly found in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where it is recorded in various historical documents from the 13th century onwards. One of the earliest known references to the name is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a man named John le Buffer is mentioned in connection with the village of Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire.

The BUFFER surname also appears in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. Although the specific individuals mentioned in the Domesday Book are not identified by surname, it is possible that some of the landowners or tenants listed may have been early bearers of the BUFFER name.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the BUFFER surname was Richard le Buffer, who was born around 1280 in the village of Wressle, Yorkshire. He was a freeman and held land in the nearby town of Howden. Another notable early bearer of the name was John Buffer, a merchant and landowner from Beverley, Yorkshire, who lived in the late 14th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the BUFFER name spread to other parts of England, including London, where several individuals with this surname were recorded as living in the city. One of the most prominent figures with the BUFFER name during this period was Sir William Buffer (1561-1628), a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London.

In the 18th century, the BUFFER surname was well-established in various regions of England, and there are records of individuals with this name serving in the British military. One such person was Captain John Buffer (1722-1798), an officer in the Royal Navy who distinguished himself during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

Throughout its history, the BUFFER surname has been subject to various spelling variations, including Buffett, Buffie, and Buffey, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and pronunciation over the centuries. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained relatively consistent, reflecting its Anglo-Saxon roots and occupational beginnings.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Buffer

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

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

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

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