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

Fullbright, 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 Fullbright surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fullbright in America

Fullbright is the 25833rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fullbright surname appeared 953 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Fullbright.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fullbright 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 Fullbright

The surname FULLBRIGHT has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place name that no longer exists or has been lost to history. The prefix "full" likely referred to a spring or stream, while the suffix "bright" could have meant a clearing or meadow, suggesting that the name may have described someone who lived near a bright or clear stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, which mention a William Fulbright. This provides evidence that the name was already in use by the late 14th century. The spelling variations during this time included Fulbryght, Fulbrught, and Fulbright.

In the 16th century, the FULLBRIGHT surname appeared in parish records from various counties across England, including Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. Notable individuals bearing this name during this period include John Fullbright (1524-1591), a landowner and merchant from Stratford-upon-Avon, and William Fullbright (1557-1628), a scholar and clergyman who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Warwick.

As the name spread across England, it became associated with different localities, leading to variations such as Fullbright of Gloucestershire and Fullbright of Lancashire. These regional variations often carried distinct coats of arms and family crests.

During the 17th century, the FULLBRIGHT surname gained recognition through individuals like Thomas Fullbright (1610-1679), a prominent lawyer and member of the Inner Temple in London, and Elizabeth Fullbright (1635-1702), a philanthropist and benefactor who funded the construction of a school in her hometown of Tewkesbury.

The 18th century saw the rise of notable figures such as Sir John Fullbright (1720-1798), a successful merchant and banker who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1785, and Captain William Fullbright (1748-1821), a naval officer who distinguished himself during the Napoleonic Wars.

In the 19th century, the FULLBRIGHT surname gained international recognition through the achievements of individuals like James William Fullbright (1809-1876), an American politician and diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Russia, and Mary Fullbright (1845-1928), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in Australia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fullbright

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

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

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

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