Buzzell
A French occupational surname for a butcher or an Old French nickname for a quarrelsome person.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,776 Americans carry the last name Buzzell. That puts it at #12,904 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.81 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 123,471 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Buzzell 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
2.8K
1 in 123,471
Census rank
#12,904
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,382 bearers of the surname Buzzell in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.81 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12904th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Buzzell, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Buzzell
The surname Buzzell is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "buzzard," which referred to a type of hawk or falcon. This name may have been given to someone who had a keen eye or hunting skills reminiscent of the bird.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Buzzell can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name was likely spelled differently in those times, with variations such as Buzard or Buzarde.
During the Middle Ages, the name Buzzell was primarily concentrated in the counties of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset in the southwest of England. Some historical records suggest that the name may have been associated with certain place names, such as Buzzard's Bush or Buzzard's Green, which were likely derived from the Old English words "buzard" and "broc" (meaning a brook or stream).
One notable individual bearing the surname Buzzell was Sir John Buzzell, a knight who lived in the 14th century and fought in the Hundred Years' War between England and France. Another prominent figure was William Buzzell, a merchant and landowner who lived in the 16th century and was mentioned in several records related to property transactions in Somerset.
In the 17th century, the name Buzzell appears in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in America, indicating that some individuals with this surname had migrated from England to the New World. One such person was Thomas Buzzell, who was born in England around 1620 and settled in Salisbury, Massachusetts in the 1640s.
Other individuals with the surname Buzzell who left their mark on history include John Buzzell (1766-1835), a Baptist minister and author from New Hampshire, and Isaac Buzzell (1784-1864), a soldier who served in the War of 1812 and later became a prominent citizen in Ohio.
Overall, the surname Buzzell has a rich history spanning several centuries and can be traced back to its English roots, with various notable bearers of the name contributing to the tapestry of different societies and cultures over time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Buzzell
Among Census respondents with the surname Buzzell, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Buzzell 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 Buzzell surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.6%
- Two or more races2.2%
- Hispanic or Latino1.7%
- Black or African American1.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Buzzell 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 | #12,904 | #12,904 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,382 | 2,382 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.81 | 0.81 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Buzzell bearers went from 2,382 to 2,382 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #12,904 to #12,904.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Buzzell
FAQ
Buzzell surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Buzzell?
The surname Buzzell holds position #12,904 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,776 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.81 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Buzzell surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Buzzell, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Hispanic (1.7%). 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.