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

Musgrove, 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 Musgrove surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Musgrove in America

Musgrove is the 5237th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Musgrove surname appeared 6,660 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 Musgrove.

We can also compare 2010 data for Musgrove 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 Musgrove

The surname Musgrove originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval era. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "musc," meaning marsh or bog, and "grava," meaning grove or small wood. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who hailed from a marshy wooded area or a settlement near such a terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of lands and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry "Musgrave" is listed as a place name in the county of Northamptonshire, providing evidence of the surname's ancient origins.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "de Musgrove," "de Musgrave," and "Musgrove," reflecting the evolution of spelling and the transition from a locational descriptor to a hereditary surname. Notable bearers of the name during this period include Sir Thomas de Musgrove, a prominent landowner in Westmorland, and Sir Richard de Musgrave, who served as High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1292.

As the surname spread across England, it took on various spellings, such as Musgrave, Musgrove, and Musgraves. One noteworthy figure was Sir Christopher Musgrave (1631-1688), an English politician and military officer who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, the Musgrove name gained prominence in the literary world with the poet and playwright Samuel Musgrove (1732-1782), whose works included the tragedy "The Royal Suppliants" and the poem "The Minstrel's Curse."

Another illustrious bearer of the name was Sir Anthony Musgrave (1828-1888), a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of Newfoundland and later as Governor of Jamaica. His contributions to colonial governance and his efforts to promote education and social reforms earned him recognition and respect.

The Musgrove surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Musgrave in Cumbria, Musgrove in Somerset, and Musgrove Willows in Wiltshire, further reinforcing its locational origins and the significance of the name in the country's history and geography.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Musgrove

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

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

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

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