Stansfield
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "stony field".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,022 Americans carry the last name Stansfield. That puts it at #16,536 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.59 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 169,513 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Stansfield 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
2.0K
1 in 169,513
Census rank
#16,536
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,736 bearers of the surname Stansfield in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.59 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 16536th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Stansfield, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.5%. The next largest groups are Black (6.1%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Stansfield
The surname STANSFIELD is of English origin, derived from a place name meaning "stony field" or "rocky pasture." It is thought to have originated in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, during the medieval period.
One of the earliest known references to the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Stanefelde." This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including Stansfeild, Stansfeld, and the modern Stansfield. These variations likely reflect regional dialects and local pronunciation differences.
In the 13th century, records show a Roger de Stansfeld holding lands in Yorkshire. This is one of the earliest documented instances of the surname in use.
Notable individuals with the surname STANSFIELD include:
1. Sir James Stansfield (1820-1898), an English industrialist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament.
2. Michael Stansfield (1928-2010), an American actor best known for his roles in television series such as The Fugitive and The Untouchables.
3. Clive Stansfield (1942-1992), an English footballer who played as a defender for clubs like Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
4. William Stansfield (1768-1838), an English cotton manufacturer and philanthropist who founded the town of Stansfield in Yorkshire.
5. Jane Stansfield (1841-1897), a British writer and feminist activist who campaigned for women's rights and education.
The surname STANSFIELD has also been associated with various place names, such as Stansfield in Yorkshire, which likely derived its name from the original Old English term "Stanfelde."
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Stansfield
Among Census respondents with the surname Stansfield, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.5%. The next largest groups are Black (6.1%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Stansfield 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 Stansfield surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.5%
- Black or African American6.1%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- Two or more races1.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Stansfield 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 | #17,449 | #16,536 | 5.2% |
| Count | 1,490 | 1,736 | 16.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.55 | 0.59 | 7.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Stansfield bearers went from 1,490 to 1,736 (+16.5% change). The surname moved up 913 positions in the national ranking, going from #17,449 to #16,536.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Stansfield
FAQ
Stansfield surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Stansfield?
The surname Stansfield holds position #16,536 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,022 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.59 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Stansfield surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Stansfield, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.5%. The next largest groups are Black (6.1%) and Hispanic (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.