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

Button, 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 Button surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Button in America

Button is the 4810th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Button surname appeared 7,341 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 Button.

We can also compare 2010 data for Button 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 Button

The surname Button has its origins in medieval England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "boton," meaning a small knob or button, which was likely an occupational name for someone who made or sold buttons.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Button can be found in various historical documents from the 13th century. One notable example is in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mentions a John le Botoner. This early spelling variation highlights the occupation-based nature of the name.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various records across England, including the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which listed a William le Botoner in Oxfordshire. The Placita de Quo Warranto of 1292 also mentions a Thomas Button from Suffolk.

In the 15th century, the name Button was firmly established across England, with families bearing the surname residing in various counties. One notable figure from this period was Sir William Button (c. 1435-1491), a prominent landowner and member of Parliament for Hertfordshire.

The 16th century saw the rise of several notable individuals with the surname Button. Sir Thomas Button (c. 1575-1634) was an English explorer and navigator who led expeditions to the Arctic in search of the Northwest Passage. Another notable figure was Ralph Button (c. 1561-1624), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells.

During the 17th century, the Button family continued to play a role in English society. Sir William Button (1598-1663) was a prominent landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for Tavistock. Additionally, Thomas Button (1617-1682) was an English merchant and writer who penned several works on trade and economics.

In the 18th century, the name Button was found across various parts of England, with families residing in counties such as Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Cambridgeshire. One notable figure from this period was Sir Thomas Button (1718-1794), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

The 19th century saw the Button surname spread further across the British Empire and beyond. Sir Thomas Townsend Button (1808-1887) was a British naval officer and surveyor who served in Australia and New Zealand. Another notable figure was Charles Button (1815-1898), an English author and journalist who wrote extensively on natural history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Button

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

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

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

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