Explore the Family Name Balfe
The meaning of Balfe
Irish (of Norman origin): Anglicized form of Gaelic Balbh meaning ‘stammering, dumb’, itself probably a translation of a Norman surname of similar meaning, ultimately derived from Latin balbus ‘stammering’. Some characteristic forenames: Irish Liam, Onora.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Balfe in the United States?
Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Balfe has seen a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked as the 40,690th most popular surname, dropping to the 54,530th spot by 2010—a decline of 34.01 percent. The count of individuals with this surname also decreased from 506 in 2000 to 378 in 2010, marking a 25.3 percent reduction. The proportion of Balfes per 100,000 people went down by 31.58 percent during the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #40,690 | #54,530 | -34.01% |
| Count | 506 | 378 | -25.3% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.19 | 0.13 | -31.58% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Balfe
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname Balfe, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals carrying this surname identify as White. In 2000, this group constituted 95.65 percent of all Balfes, decreasing slightly to 93.92 percent by 2010. There was no representation noted for Asian/Pacific Islanders, those identifying with two or more races, Black individuals, or American Indian and Alaskan Natives in either year. However, there was a small but growing representation among Hispanic individuals, increasing from 2.57 percent in 2000 to 3.44 percent in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.65% | 93.92% | -1.81% |
| Hispanic | 2.57% | 3.44% | 33.85% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |