Springsteen
Occupational surname referring to someone who lived near a spring or stream.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,337 Americans carry the last name Springsteen. That puts it at #22,516 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.39 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 256,361 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Springsteen 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
1.3K
1 in 256,361
Census rank
#22,516
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,142 bearers of the surname Springsteen in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.39 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 22516th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Springsteen, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.3%. The next largest groups are Black (4.1%) and Two or More Races (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Springsteen
The surname Springsteen is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged during the medieval period in England. It is a locational surname, derived from a place name that refers to a spring or natural water source.
The name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "spring" and "tun," which together mean "spring settlement" or "settlement near a spring." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name likely lived near a prominent spring or natural water source.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, where a person named Johannes de Spryngeston is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the locational origin of the name and its association with a specific place.
In the 14th century, the Springsteen surname appeared in various records across different regions of England. For instance, the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379 mention a Roger de Spryngeston, while the Feet of Fines for Oxfordshire from 1390 include a reference to a Thomas Spryngston.
Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Spryngston, Spryngeston, and Spryngstede, before eventually evolving into the more modern form of Springsteen.
One notable bearer of the Springsteen surname was William Springsteen, a merchant and landowner who lived in Lincolnshire, England, in the late 16th century. Records indicate that he was born around 1560 and acquired significant wealth through his business ventures.
Another individual with this surname was John Springsteen, a soldier who fought in the English Civil War during the mid-17th century. He was born in Nottinghamshire in 1620 and served in the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell.
In the 18th century, the Springsteen family had established roots in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. Thomas Springsteen, born in 1715 in Yorkshire, was a prominent landowner and farmer who contributed to the local economy and community.
Moving into the 19th century, one noteworthy bearer of the Springsteen name was Robert Springsteen, a minister and educator born in Nottinghamshire in 1810. He dedicated his life to teaching and spreading religious knowledge, leaving a lasting impact on his community.
While the Springsteen surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, where it gained significant recognition through the legendary singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, born in 1949.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Springsteen
Among Census respondents with the surname Springsteen, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.3%. The next largest groups are Black (4.1%) and Two or More Races (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Springsteen 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 Springsteen surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.3%
- Black or African American4.1%
- Two or more races2.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Unknown or suppressed1.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Springsteen 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 | #21,958 | #22,516 | -2.5% |
| Count | 1,101 | 1,142 | 3.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.41 | 0.39 | -4.9% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Springsteen bearers went from 1,101 to 1,142 (+3.7% change). The surname moved down 558 positions in the national ranking, going from #21,958 to #22,516.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Springsteen
FAQ
Springsteen surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Springsteen?
The surname Springsteen holds position #22,516 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,337 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.39 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Springsteen surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Springsteen, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.3%. The next largest groups are Black (4.1%) and Two or More Races (2.8%). 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.