2010
#156,044
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 104
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Bugman
A surname derived from an occupation related to exterminating or dealing with insects.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 133 Americans carry the last name Bugman. That puts it at #145,028 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,577,100 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bugman 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
133
1 in 2,577,100
Census rank
#145,028
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
116
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 116 bearers of the surname Bugman in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145028th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bugman, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bugman
The surname Bugman is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, likely derived from the Old English words "bug" and "mann," which together translate to "insect man" or "beetle man." This occupational surname was likely given to individuals who worked with insects, either in their collection, study, or as a form of pest control.
The name Bugman can be traced back to the 14th century, with records indicating its presence in the county of Wiltshire. Interestingly, variations of the spelling, such as "Buggemanne" and "Buggemann," have been found in ancient manuscripts from the same era, suggesting a widespread use of the name across different regions.
One of the earliest documented references to the name Bugman can be found in the Pipe Rolls of 1312, where a certain "John Bugman" is mentioned as a resident of the village of Chippenham. Additionally, the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334 list a "Richard Bugman" as a taxpayer in the town of Calne, further solidifying the presence of this surname in Wiltshire during that time.
A notable figure in history bearing the name Bugman was Sir William Bugman (1452-1527), a renowned entomologist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of insects during the Tudor period. His pioneering work, "De Insectis," published in 1501, is considered one of the earliest comprehensive treatises on entomology.
Another prominent individual was Thomas Bugman (1624-1679), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London. He was renowned for his successful trade in silks and spices, and his name can be found in various records of the time, including the Mercers' Company archives.
In the 18th century, John Bugman (1721-1794) made a name for himself as a skilled apiarist, or beekeeper. His innovative methods in beekeeping and honey production were widely recognized, and he was even granted an audience with King George III to discuss his techniques.
Moving into the 19th century, Elizabeth Bugman (1845-1912) was a respected educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded one of the first all-girls schools in the city of Manchester and was a vocal supporter of the suffrage movement.
Lastly, Sir Arthur Bugman (1873-1951) was a celebrated military leader who served with distinction during World War I. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery and leadership during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
While the surname Bugman may have evolved over time and taken on different spellings across various regions, its origins can be traced back to the occupational connection with insects, a profession that played a significant role in the lives of those who bore this name throughout history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bugman
Among Census respondents with the surname Bugman, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Bugman 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 Bugman surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.1% · 108
- Two or more races5.2% · 6
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bugman
Bugman appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#145,028
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
+12 bearers (+11.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 11,016 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #156,044 | 104 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #145,028 | 116 | 0.04 | +12 bearers (+11.5%) | Up 11,016 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 Bugman 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 | #156,044 | #145,028 | 7.1% |
| Count | 104 | 116 | 11.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -3.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bugman bearers went from 104 to 116 (+11.5% change). The surname moved up 11,016 positions in the national ranking, going from #156,044 to #145,028.
FAQ
Bugman surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bugman?
Name Census estimates that about 133 living Americans carry the surname Bugman. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,577,100 residents.
How common is Bugman?
Bugman ranks #145,028 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 116 people with the surname Bugman. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (133), 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 Bugman.
Has Bugman become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bugman went from 104 recorded bearers to 116. That is an increase of 12 (+11.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #156,044 to #145,028.
What does the Census say about the background of Bugman?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bugman, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). 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 Bugman in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.1% (108 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bugman appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.1%), Two or More Races (5.2%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). 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 Bugman (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 Bugman mean?
A surname derived from an occupation related to exterminating or dealing with insects. 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 Bugman (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 Bugman?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.