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

Foote, 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 Foote surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Foote in America

Foote is the 2219th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Foote surname appeared 16,425 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Foote.

We can also compare 2010 data for Foote 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 Foote

The surname Foote has its origins in medieval England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "fot," meaning "foot," and was likely originally an occupational name referring to a runner or messenger. The name also has ties to the French word "pied," which has a similar meaning.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Foote surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Suffolk, England, from the year 1182, where it appears as "Fote." The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a John Fote in Cambridgeshire. These early records suggest that the name was particularly prevalent in the eastern and central regions of England during the Middle Ages.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and populations undertaken in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the Foote surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the name's development, such as Fotherby in Lincolnshire and Fotheringham in Yorkshire.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the Foote surname was Sir Robert Foote, a prominent English knight who fought in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War in 1346. Another notable figure was Samuel Foote (1720-1777), an English actor, playwright, and comedian who is remembered for his satirical works and contributions to the development of English theater.

In the 16th century, the Foote family established a significant presence in Cornwall, with several members holding influential positions in local government and the clergy. Reverend John Foote (1515-1594) was a prominent clergyman and served as the Archdeacon of Worcester during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the 17th century, the Foote surname gained recognition in the American colonies. Nathaniel Foote (1615-1655) was among the founders of Wethersfield, Connecticut, and his descendants played significant roles in the early history of New England. Another notable figure was Samuel Augustus Foote (1780-1846), an American naval officer who served during the War of 1812 and later became a prominent diplomat.

The 19th century saw the rise of several individuals with the Foote surname in various fields. Mary Hallock Foote (1847-1938) was an accomplished American author and illustrator, known for her depictions of life in the American West. Arthur Foote (1853-1937) was a renowned American composer and musician, recognized for his contributions to the development of American classical music.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Foote

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

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

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

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