Explore the Family Name Bells
The meaning of Bells
English: variant of Bell with genitival or excrescent -s.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bells in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname 'Bells' experienced a decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked 43,629th in popularity with a count of 466 occurrences per 100,000 people. However, by 2010, the rank had fallen to 52,736th and the count reduced to 393, marking a decrease in proportion per 100,000 people from 0.17 to 0.13.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #43,629 | #52,736 | -20.87% |
| Count | 466 | 393 | -15.67% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.13 | -23.53% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bells
The ethnic identity associated with the surname 'Bells' saw some shifts as well over the same decade, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, individuals with this surname were largely identified as White (50%) and Black (44.64%). By 2010, there was a notable increase in identification as Black (51.40%), while those identifying as White fell to 38.68%. There were also slight increases in Hispanic identification (from 3.22% to 4.07%) and for those identifying with two or more races (from 1.07% to 1.53%). Interestingly, by 2010, some individuals with the surname 'Bells' also identified as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native, categories that were not represented in 2000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 44.64% | 51.4% | 15.14% |
| White | 50% | 38.68% | -22.64% |
| Hispanic | 3.22% | 4.07% | 26.4% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 2.8% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.07% | 1.53% | 42.99% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 1.53% | 0% |