Osbourne
From the Old English "os" meaning "god" and "beorn" meaning "bear", thus "god-bear" or "divine bear".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,982 Americans carry the last name Osbourne. That puts it at #12,156 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.87 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 114,941 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Osbourne 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
3.0K
1 in 114,941
Census rank
#12,156
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,563 bearers of the surname Osbourne in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.87 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12156th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Osbourne, the largest self-reported group is White at 54.2%. The next largest groups are Black (40.0%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Osbourne
The surname Osbourne is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English personal name Osbeorn, which means "divine bear." It is believed to have originated in the regions of Derbyshire and Staffordshire in England during the 8th or 9th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Osbern." This record suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest.
In the 12th century, the name evolved into various spellings such as Osbern, Osborn, and Osbourne. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the name.
Historically, the Osbourne family held lands and estates in various parts of England, including Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. One notable figure from this lineage was Sir John Osbourne (1552-1628), who served as a member of Parliament for Worcestershire and was knighted by King James I.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Thomas Osbourne (1632-1712), 1st Duke of Leeds. He was a prominent English statesman who served as Lord President of the Council and Lord Privy Seal under King William III and Queen Anne.
In the literary realm, Dorothy Osbourne (1627-1695) gained recognition for her letters, which provided insight into the social and cultural life of the 17th century English gentry. Her correspondences with Sir William Temple were published posthumously and became widely popular.
The name Osbourne has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Osbourne Hollow in Wiltshire and Osbourne's Hill in Derbyshire. These locations likely derived their names from early settlers or landowners bearing the Osbourne surname.
Other notable individuals with the surname Osbourne include John Osbourne (1858-1923), a British poet and playwright, and John Osbourne (1929-1994), the English playwright and screenwriter best known for his iconic play "Look Back in Anger."
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Osbourne
Among Census respondents with the surname Osbourne, the largest self-reported group is White at 54.2%. The next largest groups are Black (40.0%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Osbourne 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 Osbourne surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White54.2%
- Black or African American40.0%
- Two or more races2.6%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Osbourne 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 | #12,156 | #12,156 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,563 | 2,563 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.87 | 0.87 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Osbourne bearers went from 2,563 to 2,563 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #12,156 to #12,156.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Osbourne
FAQ
Osbourne surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Osbourne?
The surname Osbourne holds position #12,156 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,982 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.87 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Osbourne surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Osbourne, the largest self-reported group is White at 54.2%. The next largest groups are Black (40.0%) 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.