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

Timberlake, 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 Timberlake surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Timberlake in America

Timberlake is the 7589th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Timberlake surname appeared 4,380 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 Timberlake.

We can also compare 2010 data for Timberlake 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 Timberlake

The surname Timberlake has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from a place name, indicating that the original bearer of the name hailed from a location with a particular topographical feature. The prefix "Timber" suggests a connection to wooded areas or forests, while "lake" refers to a body of water, such as a lake or pond.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, where a Robert de Timberlake is mentioned in 1199. This record suggests that the name may have originated from a place called Timberlake in Staffordshire, though the exact location is uncertain.

Another early reference to the name appears in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1273, which lists a John de Timbrelak. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time and across different regions.

In the 14th century, the name Timberlake was associated with a family from Wiltshire. Records from this period mention a John Timberlake, who held land in the village of Aldbourne in 1349.

One notable bearer of the Timberlake surname was Richard Timberlake (c. 1616-1675), an English navigator and explorer who participated in several voyages to the New World. He is remembered for his expeditions along the coast of present-day Virginia and North Carolina.

Another individual of historical significance was Henry Timberlake (c. 1730-1765), an English officer and diplomat who served as an envoy to the Cherokee Nation in the mid-18th century. His account of his experiences among the Cherokee, published in 1765, provided valuable insights into their culture and way of life.

In the 19th century, John Timberlake (1802-1890) was a prominent English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in the Gothic Revival style. He was also involved in the restoration of several historic structures, including St. Mary's Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.

A more recent example is the American singer and actor Justin Timberlake (born 1981), who rose to fame as a member of the popular boy band NSYNC before embarking on a successful solo career.

It is worth noting that the Timberlake surname may have been derived from different place names in various parts of England, as locational surnames were often adopted independently in different regions. However, the common thread among these names appears to be their connection to wooded areas or bodies of water.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Timberlake

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

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

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

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