Sanborn
Habitational surname derived from various places in England meaning "sandy stream" or "sand hill."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 11,654 Americans carry the last name Sanborn. That puts it at #3,558 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.40 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 29,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sanborn 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
12K
1 in 29,411
Census rank
#3,558
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
10K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 10,025 bearers of the surname Sanborn in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.40 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3558th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sanborn, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sanborn
The surname Sanborn is an English topographic name derived from the Old English words "sand" and "burna," meaning "sandy stream." It originated in areas of England where sandy streams or rivers were found, such as in Norfolk and Suffolk. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "Sandburne" in the Domesday Book of 1086.
The name Sanborn can be traced back to the 12th century when it first appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Roger de Sandburne, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195.
During the medieval period, the name evolved into different spellings like "Sandborne," "Sandburn," and "Sandburne." These variations were often influenced by local dialects and the scribes' interpretations. The modern spelling "Sanborn" became more standardized in the 16th and 17th centuries.
In the early 17th century, several Sanborn families emigrated from England to the American colonies, particularly to Massachusetts and New Hampshire. One of the earliest settlers with this surname was John Sanborn, who arrived in Hampton, New Hampshire, in 1638.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Sanborn. One of the earliest was Richard Sanborn (1625-1718), a prominent merchant and landowner in Hampton, New Hampshire. Another notable figure was Franklin Benjamin Sanborn (1831-1917), an American journalist, author, and abolitionist who was closely associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.
Other notable individuals include Katharine Sanborn (1839-1917), an American educator and pioneer in the field of home economics; John Benjamin Sanborn (1826-1904), an American Civil War general; and Walter Sanborn (1838-1891), a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the House of Commons of Canada.
The surname Sanborn has also been associated with various place names, such as Sanborn County in South Dakota and several towns and villages in the United States and Canada, reflecting the geographic origins and migrations of families with this surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sanborn
Among Census respondents with the surname Sanborn, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Sanborn 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 Sanborn surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.8%
- Two or more races2.0%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
- Black or African American0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Sanborn 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,351 | #3,558 | -6.2% |
| Count | 9,750 | 10,025 | 2.8% |
| Per 100K | 3.61 | 3.40 | -5.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Sanborn bearers went from 9,750 to 10,025 (+2.8% change). The surname moved down 207 positions in the national ranking, going from #3,351 to #3,558.
FAQ
Sanborn surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Sanborn?
The surname Sanborn holds position #3,558 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 11,654 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.40 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Sanborn surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sanborn, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and Hispanic (1.9%). 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.