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

Bulford, 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 Bulford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bulford in America

Bulford is the 89753rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bulford surname appeared 206 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 Bulford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bulford 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 Bulford

The surname Bulford is of English origin, with roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the place name Bulford, a village located in Wiltshire, England. The name itself is a combination of the Old English words "bul" meaning "bull" and "ford" meaning "a shallow place for crossing a river or stream."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bulford can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire from the year 1176, where a Walter de Bulford is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use during the late 12th century, likely referring to individuals who resided in or were associated with the village of Bulford.

In the Domesday Book, a significant historical record from 1086, there are references to the village of Bulford itself, although the surname is not explicitly mentioned. This indicates that the place name, from which the surname is derived, has existed since at least the 11th century.

The name Bulford has been documented in various historical records throughout the centuries. For instance, in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1275, a John de Bulford is recorded. Additionally, in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire from 1335, a Robert de Bulford is mentioned.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Bulford include:

1. Sir John Bulford (c. 1480 - 1553), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire.
2. Thomas Bulford (c. 1550 - 1620), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton.
3. Elizabeth Bulford (c. 1600 - 1670), an English writer and poet known for her religious works.
4. William Bulford (1725 - 1802), a British military officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.
5. Richard Bulford (1850 - 1932), a prominent English architect known for his work on various churches and public buildings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the surname Bulford may have originated from a specific location, it has since spread across various regions, particularly in England, and has been borne by individuals from different walks of life throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bulford

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

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

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

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