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

Tabor, 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 Tabor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tabor in America

Tabor is the 2360th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tabor surname appeared 15,445 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Tabor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tabor 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 Tabor

The surname Tabor originated in England, with records dating back to the late 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "tabor," which referred to a small drum used in medieval times. The name likely originated as an occupational surname for a drummer or drummer-maker.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England compiled by order of William the Conqueror, there are several entries for individuals with the surname Tabor or similar spellings, such as Taborere or Taborour. These early records suggest the name was already established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Tabor was Robert le Taborur, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1170. The Pipe Rolls were medieval financial records kept by the English Exchequer.

In the 13th century, the surname Tabor appeared in various forms, including Taborur, Tabborer, and Taburrer, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that period. Some early bearers of the name included William le Taburer, mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1207, and Henry le Tabborer, recorded in the Assize Rolls of Warwickshire in 1279.

The surname Tabor may also have derived from place names, such as Tabor Hill in Buckinghamshire or Tabor Manor in Gloucestershire. In these cases, the name likely referred to someone who lived near or was associated with these locations.

Notable individuals with the surname Tabor throughout history include:

1. John Tabor (c. 1370-1450), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Somerset in the 15th century.
2. Sir Robert Tabor (c. 1500-1558), an English merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1557.
3. William Tabor (c. 1520-1593), an English Protestant clergyman who served as Dean of St. Asaph's Cathedral in Wales.
4. Henry Tabor (1584-1654), an English colonist and one of the founders of the town of Taunton, Massachusetts, in the early 17th century.
5. Francis Tabor (1769-1835), an English Quaker and abolitionist who worked to end the slave trade in the British Empire.

While the surname Tabor has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by migration and immigration over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tabor

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

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

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

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