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

Burchfield, 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 Burchfield surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Burchfield in America

Burchfield is the 5274th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Burchfield surname appeared 6,612 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Burchfield.

We can also compare 2010 data for Burchfield 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 Burchfield

The surname Burchfield has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "burh" and "feld," meaning "fortified town" and "field," respectively. This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name referring to someone who lived near a fortified town or field.

One of the earliest known records of the surname Burchfield can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This document mentions individuals with variations of the name, such as "de Burchfeld" and "Burchfelde."

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including "Burchfeld," "Burchfild," and "Burchfelde," indicating regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. These variations often reflected the local dialects and accents of different areas in England.

One notable bearer of the Burchfield surname was Sir John Burchfield (c. 1480-1540), a prominent English landowner and member of the gentry in Staffordshire. He held significant estates and played a role in local governance during the reign of Henry VIII.

Another historical figure with this surname was Thomas Burchfield (1612-1677), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Provost of Eton College from 1651 to 1677. He was known for his contributions to education and was instrumental in the restoration of the college after the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, Elizabeth Burchfield (1727-1792) made her mark as a notable British botanist and naturalist. She contributed to the study of plants and their classification, particularly in the field of bryology, which focuses on mosses and liverworts.

During the 19th century, the Burchfield surname gained prominence in the United States. One notable individual was David Burchfield (1826-1901), a Union Army officer who fought in the American Civil War and later served as a member of the Kansas State Legislature.

Another significant figure was Samuel Burchfield (1853-1928), an American businessman and industrialist who founded the Burchfield Lumber Company in Arkansas. His company played a crucial role in the development of the lumber industry in the southern United States.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals who have borne the Burchfield surname throughout the centuries, highlighting its enduring presence in various parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Burchfield

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

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

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

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