2000
#722
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 43,021
First available Census row
Per 100,000 15.95
Uncommon Last name
Bullock
An occupational surname referring to a keeper or herder of bulls or bullocks (young bulls).
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 48,938 Americans carry the last name Bullock. That puts it at #790 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 14.28 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 7,004 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bullock 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Bullock with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
49K
1 in 7,004
Census rank
#790
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
14.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
43K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 42,676 bearers of the surname Bullock in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 14.28 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 790th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bullock, the largest self-reported group is White at 59.9%. The next largest groups are Black (31.5%) and Two or More Races (4.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bullock
The surname Bullock originates from England and dates back to the medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "bulluc," meaning a young bull or male calf. The name was initially given to individuals who worked with bullocks, such as herdsmen, farmers, or traders.
The earliest recorded instances of the Bullock surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bulloc" and "Buloc." This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in various parts of England.
During the Middle Ages, the name was particularly prevalent in counties like Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire, where cattle farming and trade were essential economic activities. The Bullock family was well-established in these regions, with several members holding positions of prominence in local communities.
One notable figure from the 14th century was John Bullock, a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry in Nottinghamshire. Born around 1330, he served as a Justice of the Peace and was involved in several legal disputes over land ownership.
In the 16th century, the Bullock surname appeared in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of 1524 in Gloucestershire and the Muster Rolls of 1539 in Yorkshire. These documents provide evidence of the name's widespread use across different parts of England.
The Bullocks of Shropshire were a prominent family during the 17th century. Sir Richard Bullock (1610-1667) was a renowned politician and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.
Another notable figure was William Bullock (1773-1849), a celebrated English traveler, naturalist, and writer. He was born in London and is best known for his extensive explorations of Mexico and his published works on the natural history and antiquities of the region.
In the 19th century, the Bullock surname continued to be well-represented in various fields. One example is William Bullock (1813-1867), an English missionary who founded the first Anglican church in British Columbia, Canada.
Throughout history, the Bullock surname has been associated with various occupations, including farming, cattle trading, politics, exploration, and religious service. While the name originated from a humble occupation, it has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective fields.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bullock
Among Census respondents with the surname Bullock, the largest self-reported group is White at 59.9%. The next largest groups are Black (31.5%) and Two or More Races (4.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Bullock 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 Bullock surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White59.9% · 25,565
- Black or African American31.5% · 13,439
- Two or more races4.4% · 1,861
- Hispanic or Latino3.1% · 1,319
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 258
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 234
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bullock
Bullock 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
#770
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 44,740
+1,719 bearers (+4.0%)
Per 100,000 15.17
Rank movement Down 48 places
2020
#790
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 42,676
-2,064 bearers (-4.6%)
Per 100,000 14.28
Rank movement Down 20 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #722 | 43,021 | 15.95 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #770 | 44,740 | 15.17 | +1,719 bearers (+4.0%) | Down 48 places |
| 2020 | #790 | 42,676 | 14.28 | -2,064 bearers (-4.6%) | Down 20 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 Bullock 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 | #770 | #790 | -2.6% |
| Count | 44,740 | 42,676 | -4.6% |
| Per 100K | 15.17 | 14.28 | -5.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bullock bearers went from 44,740 to 42,676 (-4.6% change). The surname moved down 20 positions in the national ranking, going from #770 to #790.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bullock
FAQ
Bullock surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bullock?
Name Census estimates that about 48,938 living Americans carry the surname Bullock. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 7,004 residents.
How common is Bullock?
Bullock ranks #790 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 14.28 per 100,000 residents, which is about 14 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 42,676 people with the surname Bullock. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (48,938), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 14.28 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 14.28 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 14 of them to have the surname Bullock.
Has Bullock become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bullock went from 44,740 recorded bearers to 42,676. That is a decrease of 2,064 (-4.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #770 to #790.
What does the Census say about the background of Bullock?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bullock, the largest self-reported group is White at 59.9%. The next largest groups are Black (31.5%) and Two or More Races (4.4%). 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 Bullock in the 2020 Census, accounting for 59.9% (25,565 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bullock appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (59.9%), Black (31.5%), Two or More Races (4.4%). 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 Bullock (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 Bullock mean?
An occupational surname referring to a keeper or herder of bulls or bullocks (young bulls). 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 Bullock (14.28 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 Americans have the surname Bullock?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.