Explore the Family Name Basque
The meaning of Basque
French: ethnic name for a Basque (see Vasco). Compare Bascue. History: In North America, this surname was originally (also) a secondary surname or dit (‘also called’) name, borne by Jean alias Joannis Bastarache dit Le Basque from the Basque Country, France (see Bastarache). Some characteristic forenames: French Cecile, Marcel.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Basque in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Basque" saw a decline from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Basque was ranked 48,380th and by 2010, it had dropped to 58,481st, indicating a negative change of approximately 20.88 percent. The count of individuals with this surname also decreased by 15.37 percent over the decade, from 410 to 347. Correspondingly, the proportion of people named Basque per 100,000 individuals dipped from 0.15 to 0.12, showing a decline of 20 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #48,380 | #58,481 | -20.88% |
| Count | 410 | 347 | -15.37% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.15 | 0.12 | -20% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Basque
The ethnic identity associated with the surname "Basque" has also undergone changes between 2000 and 2010, as evidenced by the data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, 61.46 percent of individuals with the Basque surname identified as White, and this figure slightly decreased to 59.65 percent in 2010. The percentage identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander also fell from 3.17 percent to 2.59 percent. However, those identifying as Hispanic saw an increase from 30.00 percent to 33.14 percent. The data for two or more races was not available in 2000, but by 2010, 3.17 percent of individuals with the Basque surname identified with multiple ethnicities. Neither in 2000 nor in 2010 did anyone with the Basque surname identify as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 61.46% | 59.65% | -2.95% |
| Hispanic | 30% | 33.14% | 10.47% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 3.17% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.17% | 2.59% | -18.3% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 3.17% | 0% | 0% |