Explore the Family Name Belgrave
The meaning of Belgrave
English: habitational name from a place in Leicestershire, recorded in Domesday Book as Merdegrave. The original name derived from Old English mearth ‘marten’ + grāf ‘grove’, but after the Norman Conquest the first element was taken to be Old French merde ‘dung, filth’, and changed to Old French beu, bel ‘fair, lovely’, to remove the unpleasant association. A mid-12th-century writer refers to the place as ‘Merthegrave, nunc (now) Belegrava’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Belgrave in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Belgrave has seen a steady increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it ranked 21,590 and climbed to a rank of 20,709 by 2010, representing an increase of 4.08%. The number of people carrying the Belgrave name also rose during this period, with a count of 1,126 in 2000 and 1,277 in 2010, indicating a growth of 13.41%. Per every 100,000 people, the proportion bearing this surname slightly went up from 0.42 to 0.43, marking a 2.38% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,590 | #20,709 | 4.08% |
| Count | 1,126 | 1,277 | 13.41% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.42 | 0.43 | 2.38% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Belgrave
The Decennial U.S. Census data also reveals interesting trends in the ethnic identity tied to the surname Belgrave. In 2010, 75.80% identified as Black, down from 76.47% in 2000. The percentage identifying as White remained stable, decreasing slightly from 10.57% in 2000 to 10.49% in 2010. At the same time, there was a significant increase in the Hispanic representation from 8.35% in 2000 to 10.57% in 2010. The census data also shows a minor increase in people of Asian/Pacific Islander descent, moving from 0.44% in 2000 to 0.55% in 2010. However, those identifying with two or more races saw a considerable decrease from 3.64% in 2000 to 2.19% in 2010. Lastly, individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native also decreased from 0.53% in 2000 to 0.39% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 76.47% | 75.8% | -0.88% |
| Hispanic | 8.35% | 10.57% | 26.59% |
| White | 10.57% | 10.49% | -0.76% |
| Two or More Races | 3.64% | 2.19% | -39.84% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.44% | 0.55% | 25% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.53% | 0.39% | -26.42% |