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

Burfiend, 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 Burfiend surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Burfiend in America

Burfiend is the 142108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Burfiend surname appeared 117 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 Burfiend.

We can also compare 2010 data for Burfiend 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 Burfiend

The surname BURFIEND is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, with roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon era. The name is thought to derive from the Old English words "burh" meaning "fortified settlement" and "fiend" meaning "enemy" or "foe."

Historically, the name BURFIEND may have referred to an individual who resided near a fortified town or village and was known for their hostile or antagonistic nature towards others. Alternatively, it could have been a descriptive moniker given to someone who was perceived as an enemy or threat to a particular town or settlement.

While no definitive records exist regarding the appearance of the BURFIEND surname in early manuscripts or historical documents like the Domesday Book, it is plausible that variations of the name may have been present during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BURFIEND surname can be traced back to a certain John Burfiend, born around 1436 in Lincolnshire, England. He was a landowner and farmer who is mentioned in local parish records from the mid-15th century.

Another notable figure was Sir William Burfiend (1578-1642), a prominent English merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London during the reign of King Charles I. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, aligning himself with the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 17th century, a family by the name of Burfiend resided in the village of Burford, Oxfordshire. This may suggest a connection between the surname and the place name, possibly indicating that the family originated from or had ties to that particular location.

During the 18th century, a certain Thomas Burfiend (1712-1789) gained recognition as a skilled clockmaker and instrument maker in London. His intricate timepieces and scientific instruments were highly sought after by the aristocracy and scholarly circles of the time.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Burfiend (1820-1898), a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights in the United States. She founded several schools for girls and campaigned tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for women in the latter half of the 19th century.

While the BURFIEND surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and potential connections to various places and individuals throughout the centuries make it a fascinating subject of study for onomatologists and genealogists alike.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Burfiend

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

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

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

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