Fishburne
A surname referring to someone living near a place with abundant fish or streams.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 651 Americans carry the last name Fishburne. That puts it at #38,532 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.19 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 526,504 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Fishburne 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
651
1 in 526,504
Census rank
#38,532
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
574
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 574 bearers of the surname Fishburne in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 38532nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Fishburne, the largest self-reported group is White at 48.6%. The next largest groups are Black (46.5%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Fishburne
The surname Fishburne has its origins in England, emerging in the late medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. It is a locational name, derived from a place name that likely referred to a stream or body of water where fish were found. The name may have originated from the Old English words "fisc" (fish) and "burna" (stream), indicating a settlement or area near a fish-bearing stream.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fishburne can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it appears as "Fysshebyrne." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time and the influence of regional dialects on its pronunciation and written form.
The Fishburne surname has a strong connection to the county of Yorkshire in northern England. Records from the 16th and 17th centuries show several Fishburne families residing in various parishes within Yorkshire, such as Knaresborough and Kirkby Malzeard.
A notable historical figure bearing the Fishburne name was William Fishburne, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the late 16th century. He owned extensive properties in Yorkshire and left a substantial inheritance to his heirs upon his death in 1597.
Another prominent individual with the Fishburne surname was Thomas Fishburne, born in 1674 in Ripon, Yorkshire. He was a respected clergyman who served as the Rector of Waddington from 1709 until his death in 1742.
In the 18th century, the Fishburne family had a presence in the city of London, where John Fishburne, born in 1712, was a successful merchant and member of the prestigious Worshipful Company of Skinners.
During the 19th century, the Fishburne name spread to other parts of England, with families residing in counties such as Lancashire and Derbyshire. One notable figure from this era was Robert Fishburne, born in 1821 in Ecclesfield, Yorkshire. He was a renowned architect and designed several notable buildings, including churches and public structures.
The Fishburne surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Fishburn in County Durham and Fisherburn in Yorkshire. These place names likely share a similar etymological origin as the surname, reflecting the presence of fish-bearing streams or bodies of water.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Fishburne
Among Census respondents with the surname Fishburne, the largest self-reported group is White at 48.6%. The next largest groups are Black (46.5%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Fishburne 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 Fishburne surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White48.6%
- Black or African American46.5%
- Two or more races2.6%
- Hispanic or Latino1.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Fishburne 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 | #38,532 | #38,532 | 0.0% |
| Count | 574 | 574 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.19 | 0.19 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Fishburne bearers went from 574 to 574 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #38,532 to #38,532.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Fishburne
FAQ
Fishburne surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Fishburne?
The surname Fishburne holds position #38,532 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 651 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Fishburne surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Fishburne, the largest self-reported group is White at 48.6%. The next largest groups are Black (46.5%) and Two or More Races (2.6%). 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.