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

Torbett, 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 Torbett surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Torbett in America

Torbett is the 22481st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Torbett surname appeared 1,144 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Torbett.

We can also compare 2010 data for Torbett 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 Torbett

The surname Torbett is of Scottish origin, derived from the Old English words "tor" meaning a hill or rocky peak, and "bett" meaning a dwelling or shelter. It is believed to have originated in the Scottish Lowlands during the medieval period, likely referring to someone who lived near a prominent hill or rocky outcrop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish nobility and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The entry "William de Torbett" appears in this record, suggesting the name was already established in Scotland by the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Torbett was found in various spellings such as Torbet, Torbitt, and Torbert, reflecting the inconsistencies in written records during that time. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, where several families bearing the name were landowners and prominent members of their local communities.

One notable historical figure with the surname Torbett was William Torbett (c. 1610-1680), a Scottish minister and religious writer from Ayrshire. He was a staunch Presbyterian and played a significant role in the religious turmoil of the 17th century, authoring several works on theology and church governance.

Another individual of note was James Torbett (1767-1847), a Scottish-born merchant and land speculator who emigrated to Canada in the early 19th century. He was instrumental in the development of the town of Bytown, now known as Ottawa, and was appointed as one of the first magistrates in the region.

In the United States, the name Torbett can be traced back to the colonial era, with several families of Scottish descent settling in Virginia and Pennsylvania. One notable figure was John Torbett (1790-1872), a pioneer and farmer from Ohio who served in the War of 1812 and later became a prominent landowner in Indiana.

While the surname Torbett is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history rooted in the rugged landscapes of Scotland and the resilience of its bearers throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Torbett

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

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

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

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