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

Tarbox, 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 Tarbox surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tarbox in America

Tarbox is the 14511th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tarbox surname appeared 2,055 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Tarbox.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tarbox 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 Tarbox

The surname Tarbox has its origins in England, where it emerged during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "terr" meaning to tear or rend, and "box" referring to a type of container or chest. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational one, possibly referring to someone who worked with tearing or rending boxes, such as a cooper or barrel maker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1273, which lists a John Terrebocc. This variation in spelling highlights the fluid nature of surnames during that time, as they were often based on spoken pronunciation rather than standardized spellings.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Terrebogh, Terrebogh, and Terrebought, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling. These variations can be found in medieval records such as the Subsidy Rolls and the Lay Subsidy Rolls.

One notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Tarbox, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War with France in the mid-14th century. He was recorded as participating in the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and the Siege of Calais in 1347.

Another prominent figure was William Tarbox, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the late 15th century. He was mentioned in various city records and played an influential role in the governance of the city during that time.

In the 16th century, the surname appeared in various places across England, including in the Parish Registers of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where a Thomas Tarbox was recorded in 1587. The name was also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire, where a Robert Tarbox was listed in 1523.

During the 17th century, the Tarbox family became established in the county of Norfolk, with records showing several members of the family holding positions of prominence in local affairs. One notable figure from this period was John Tarbox, a wealthy landowner and justice of the peace who lived in the village of Reepham in the late 1600s.

As the centuries progressed, the Tarbox name continued to spread across various regions of England, with individuals bearing the surname making contributions in various fields, including agriculture, trade, and public service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tarbox

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

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

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

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