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

Busby, 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 Busby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Busby in America

Busby is the 2320th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Busby surname appeared 15,754 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Busby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Busby 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 Busby

The surname Busby has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "busc," meaning a bush or thicket, combined with the suffix "-by," signifying a farm or settlement. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person or family residing near a prominent bush or wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Busby name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The book mentions a landowner named Robertus de Buscebi, indicating the presence of the name in Nottinghamshire at that time.

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, including Busseby, Bussebi, and Busseby, reflecting the phonetic variations of the time. The name was also associated with place names such as Busby, a village in Leicestershire, and Busby, a hamlet in Derbyshire, suggesting that the surname may have originated from these locations.

Noteworthy individuals bearing the Busby surname include Sir John Busby (1765-1857), a British army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent settler in Australia. Another notable figure was Thomas Busby (1786-1838), an English naval officer and the first British Resident in New Zealand, playing a crucial role in the country's early colonial history.

In the realm of literature, the name is associated with Edith Busby (1872-1948), an American author and educator who wrote several books on teaching methods and children's literature. Additionally, James Busby (1801-1871), a Scottish journalist and political reformer, made significant contributions to the development of the British labor movement.

Busby is also a name with ties to the entertainment industry, with actors such as Rodney Busby (1945-2009), known for his roles in films like "Airplane!" and "The Towering Inferno," and Sylvia Busby (1949-2003), a British actress who appeared in various television shows and films.

Throughout history, the Busby surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from military leaders and colonial administrators to authors and actors. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread across the globe, leaving its mark on various aspects of society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Busby

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

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

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

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