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

Roundtree, 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 Roundtree surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Roundtree in America

Roundtree is the 5405th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Roundtree surname appeared 6,439 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 Roundtree.

We can also compare 2010 data for Roundtree 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 Roundtree

The surname Roundtree is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "rund," meaning "round," and "treow," meaning "tree." This suggests that the name may have originated from a specific place or area characterized by a distinctive round tree or cluster of trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, where it appears as "de Runde-treo." This indicates that the name was likely associated with a particular location or estate during the 12th century.

In the early 13th century, the surname appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Gloucestershire as "Rundetre," further supporting its locational origins. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including "Roundtree," "Roundtry," and "Rountree."

Several notable individuals have borne the Roundtree surname throughout history. One of the earliest recorded was John Roundtree, a merchant and alderman in the city of York, who lived during the 15th century. In the 16th century, Richard Roundtree was a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Lincolnshire.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Captain William Roundtree fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was known for his bravery in battle. Another notable figure was Thomas Roundtree, a Quaker minister and author who lived in Cumberland in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

In the 19th century, Joseph Roundtree founded the famous confectionery company Rowntree in York, which later became a part of the Nestlé corporation. His son, Benjamin Seebohm Roundtree, was a renowned social reformer and philanthropist who conducted groundbreaking research on poverty in York.

While the Roundtree surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and settlement. However, the earliest recorded examples and historical references remain firmly rooted in the English countryside and urban centers of the medieval and early modern periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Roundtree

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

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

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

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