Busey
An occupational surname derived from the Old French word "buisier", meaning woodworker or carpenter.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,302 Americans carry the last name Busey. That puts it at #22,749 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.38 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 263,252 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Busey surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
1.3K
1 in 263,252
Census rank
#22,749
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,126 bearers of the surname Busey in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.38 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 22749th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Busey, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.2%. The next largest groups are Black (11.5%) and Two or More Races (3.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Busey
The surname Busey originated in England, with records dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bury," which refers to a fortified town or dwelling. The name may have been given to someone who lived near a prominent bury or one who worked as a guardian or keeper of a bury.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, where a Richard de Bures is mentioned. This spelling variation suggests a connection to the town of Bures in Suffolk, which further reinforces the name's association with a place of residence.
In the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, a William de Bures is recorded as holding lands in Hertfordshire. This record provides evidence of the surname's usage and establishment during the medieval period.
The Busey surname has also been linked to the village of Bushey in Hertfordshire, which was once spelled as "Bußey" or "Busshy." This connection suggests that the name may have originated from a person who hailed from or was associated with this particular location.
Notable individuals with the surname Busey include Sir John Busby (1765-1857), a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament. Another prominent figure was William Henry Busey (1826-1898), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Illinois.
In the realm of literature, the American author and poet John Busby (1918-1989) gained recognition for his works, including the novel "House of Fury" and the poetry collection "The Summon."
The Busey name can also be found in the arts, with Gary Busey (born 1944) being a notable American actor known for his roles in films such as "The Buddy Holly Story," "Lethal Weapon," and "Point Break."
Additionally, the American baseball player Gus Busey (1888-1953) played in the Major Leagues from 1911 to 1924, primarily for the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Busey
Among Census respondents with the surname Busey, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.2%. The next largest groups are Black (11.5%) and Two or More Races (3.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Busey bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Busey surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White81.2%
- Black or African American11.5%
- Two or more races3.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Busey surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,749 | #22,749 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,126 | 1,126 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.38 | 0.38 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Busey bearers went from 1,126 to 1,126 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #22,749 to #22,749.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Busey
FAQ
Busey surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Busey?
The surname Busey holds position #22,749 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,302 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.38 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Busey surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Busey, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.2%. The next largest groups are Black (11.5%) and Two or More Races (3.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.