Score
A surname referring to the act of scoring or marking something.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 583 Americans carry the last name Score. That puts it at #42,378 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 587,915 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Score 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
583
1 in 587,915
Census rank
#42,378
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
512
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 512 bearers of the surname Score in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 42378th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Score, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Score
The surname "SCORE" is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "scor," which means a boundary or a territorial division.
In its earliest form, the name was likely used to refer to someone who lived near a boundary or a marked boundary line, perhaps between two villages or estates. This suggests that the name may have originated in rural areas where land ownership and boundaries were of significance.
Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "SCORE" can be found in medieval documents and records from various parts of England. One notable example is the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which contains references to individuals with the surname "Score" in counties such as Oxfordshire and Berkshire.
During the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, including "Scor," "Scorre," and "Skore," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. One individual of note was John Scorre, who was mentioned in the Patent Rolls of 1348 as a landowner in Gloucestershire.
As the centuries passed, the surname "SCORE" continued to be documented in various historical records across England. In the 16th century, for instance, there are records of the Scores of Devonshire, a notable family with roots in the county.
One prominent figure with the surname "SCORE" was Sir Clement Score, a judge and legal scholar who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as a Justice of the King's Bench and was renowned for his legal expertise.
Another individual of note was Thomas Score, a Puritan minister who lived during the 17th century. Born in 1589, he was a renowned preacher and author, known for his works on religious topics.
In the 18th century, the surname "SCORE" was also found in various parts of England, with notable individuals such as John Score, a merchant and landowner in Oxfordshire, born in 1712.
During the 19th century, the surname continued to be documented across England, with individuals like William Score, a prominent industrialist from Lancashire, born in 1823, and Mary Score, a renowned educator and advocate for women's education, born in 1841.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Score
Among Census respondents with the surname Score, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Score 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 Score surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.5%
- Hispanic or Latino3.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.8%
- Two or more races1.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Score 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 | #42,378 | #42,378 | 0.0% |
| Count | 512 | 512 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Score bearers went from 512 to 512 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #42,378 to #42,378.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Score
FAQ
Score surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Score?
The surname Score holds position #42,378 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 583 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Score surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Score, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%). 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.