Explore the Family Name Belford
The meaning of Belford
1. Scottish: habitational name from Belford in Roxburghshire. 2. English: habitational name from a place in Northumberland and North Yorkshire named Belford, from Old English belle ‘bell-shaped hill’ + ford ‘ford’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Belford in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Belford has seen a minor decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname ranked 11,981 in terms of popularity across the United States, but it slipped to 12,378 in 2010, reflecting a change of -3.31%. However, the count of individuals with the surname Belford actually increased by 5.06% during this period, from 2,392 to 2,513. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw a small reduction from 0.89 to 0.85, marking a change of -4.49%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,981 | #12,378 | -3.31% |
| Count | 2,392 | 2,513 | 5.06% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.89 | 0.85 | -4.49% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Belford
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the Belford surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data provides some interesting insights. While the majority of individuals with this surname identified as White (76.13 % in 2000 and 74.65% in 2010), there were shifts in other categories. The percentage of Belfords identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander slightly decreased from 1.76% to 1.63%, while the proportion of those identifying as Black declined from 17.14% to 16.47%. In contrast, there was an increase in the number of Belfords with Hispanic ethnicity (from 2.42% to 3.66%) and those who identify with two or more races (from 2.22% to 3.02%). Interestingly, the highest percentage increase was noted in the American Indian and Alaskan Native category, which saw a rise from 0.33% to 0.56% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76.13% | 74.65% | -1.94% |
| Black | 17.14% | 16.47% | -3.91% |
| Hispanic | 2.42% | 3.66% | 51.24% |
| Two or More Races | 2.22% | 3.02% | 36.04% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.76% | 1.63% | -7.39% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.33% | 0.56% | 69.7% |