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

Bumford, 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 Bumford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bumford in America

Bumford is the 71886th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bumford surname appeared 271 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 Bumford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bumford 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 Bumford

The surname Bumford has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bum" meaning a hump or small hill, and "ford" referring to a shallow river crossing. This suggests that the name likely originated from a place name, referring to a settlement near a river crossing on a small hill or raised ground.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from 1273, which mentions a John de Bumford. This indicates that the name was already established in the region by the late 13th century.

The Bumford surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it is recorded as "Bunford." This variation in spelling was common in medieval times, as standardized spelling conventions had not yet been established.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname appears in various parish records and court documents across England. Notable individuals bearing this name include William Bumford, a merchant from Bristol who was born in 1587 and traded extensively with the American colonies.

In the 18th century, the Bumford surname is associated with the village of Bumford Speke, located in Somerset. This place name likely originated from the same root as the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and its geographical origins.

One of the most prominent individuals with the Bumford surname was Sir Edward Bumford (1773-1845), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He played a significant role in the Battle of Trafalgar and was later knighted for his service.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Bumford (1813-1892), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded one of the first schools for girls in London and campaigned tirelessly for equal educational opportunities.

Other individuals with the Bumford surname include the 19th-century artist John Bumford (1825-1901), known for his landscape paintings, and the writer and poet Emily Bumford (1867-1945), who published several volumes of poetry.

Throughout its history, the Bumford surname has maintained a strong connection to its English roots, reflecting the geographical origins from which it emerged centuries ago.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bumford

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

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

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

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