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

Paxton, 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 Paxton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Paxton in America

Paxton is the 3049th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Paxton surname appeared 11,754 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Paxton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Paxton 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 Paxton

The surname Paxton has its origins in the northern regions of England, particularly Northumberland and the Scottish Borders. It is derived from the Old English words "peac" meaning a hill or peak, and "tun" meaning a settlement or farm. The name likely refers to a specific farm or hamlet situated on a hill or elevated land.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Paxton can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. There, the village of Paxton is listed as "Paxingeton" in Yorkshire.

In the 12th century, the name appears as "Paxston" in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire, referring to a landowner in that region. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form of Paxton.

The name is also associated with several place names in England and Scotland, such as Paxton in Berwickshire, Scotland, and Paxton in Huntingdonshire, England. These locations likely contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname by families residing in those areas.

Notable individuals with the surname Paxton throughout history include Sir Joseph Paxton (1803-1865), an influential English gardener, architect, and Member of Parliament, best known for designing the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Another prominent figure was Bill Paxton (1955-2017), an American actor and director known for roles in films like "Aliens," "Twister," and "Apollo 13."

Other historical figures bearing the Paxton surname include Thomas Paxton (1719-1788), an American surveyor and pioneer who explored and settled parts of the Ohio Valley, and Walter Paxton (1824-1912), a Scottish architect responsible for designing numerous buildings in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

In the literary world, Steven Paxton (born 1939) is a renowned American dancer and choreographer, considered a pioneer of the postmodern dance movement. Mary Paxton (1924-2013) was an American author and journalist, best known for her works chronicling the life and times of the American South.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Paxton

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

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

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

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