Washburn
A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "stream by a marsh" in Old English.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 23,273 Americans carry the last name Washburn. That puts it at #1,793 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 6.79 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 14,728 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Washburn 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
23K
1 in 14,728
Census rank
#1,793
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
6.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
20K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 20,030 bearers of the surname Washburn in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 6.79 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1793rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Washburn, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Washburn
The surname WASHBURN is of English origin, derived from a topographic name for someone who lived near a stream. It is composed of the Old English elements "wæsc" meaning "a washing or a stream" and "burna" meaning "a stream or brook." The name likely originated in areas of England with an abundance of streams and brooks.
The earliest recorded instances of the WASHBURN surname date back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, there is a mention of a Richard de Wasseburn. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also list a John de Wasshebourn. These early spellings highlight the variations in the name over time.
The WASHBURN surname has been found in various historical records throughout English history. One notable example is John Washbourne, a 16th-century English clergyman and scholar who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1564 to 1565.
Another notable individual with the WASHBURN surname was William Washburn (1619-1686), an early settler of Duxbury, Massachusetts, who arrived in America aboard the Mayflower in 1620. He was a prominent figure in the early colonial period and served as a deputy to the General Court of Plymouth Colony.
In the 18th century, Israel Washburn (1784-1828) was a notable American politician from Massachusetts who served as the 23rd Governor of Maine. His son, Israel Washburn Jr. (1813-1883), was also a politician and served as a U.S. Representative and Senator from Maine.
Another prominent figure with the WASHBURN surname was Cadwallader Colden Washburn (1818-1882), an American industrialist and politician from Wisconsin. He founded the Washburn-Crosby Company, which later became General Mills, one of the largest food companies in the world.
The WASHBURN surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Washburn County in Wisconsin and Washburn, Maine. These locations were likely named after individuals with the WASHBURN surname, further emphasizing the historical significance of this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Washburn
Among Census respondents with the surname Washburn, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Washburn 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 Washburn surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.9%
- Two or more races1.8%
- Black or African American1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Washburn 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,793 | #1,793 | 0.0% |
| Count | 20,030 | 20,030 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 6.79 | 6.79 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Washburn bearers went from 20,030 to 20,030 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,793 to #1,793.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Washburn
FAQ
Washburn surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Washburn?
The surname Washburn holds position #1,793 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 23,273 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 6.79 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Washburn surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Washburn, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.9%). 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.