Explore the Family Name Bethune
The meaning of Bethune
Scottish (of Norman origin); French (Béthune): habitational name from Béthune in Pas-de-Calais, Picardy, France, recorded in the 8th century in the Latin form Bitunia, probably an adjective (with villa understood) derived from the oblique form of an ancient Germanic personal name Betto, an assimilated form of Berto (see Bert). See also Scottish Beaton.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bethune in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Bethune saw minor fluctuations in popularity between 2000 and 2010. The rank dropped slightly from 8903 to 9437 with a change of -6.0, suggesting a decrease in usage when compared to other surnames. However, the overall count of people with this surname increased slightly from 3380 to 3447, showing an increase of nearly 2 percent over the decade. The proportion per 100k also declined by 6.4 during this period, from 1.25 to 1.17.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,903 | #9,437 | -6% |
| Count | 3,380 | 3,447 | 1.98% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.25 | 1.17 | -6.4% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bethune
The data from the Decennial U.S. Census also revealed changes in ethnic identity among those with the Bethune surname. The percentage of individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander grew significantly from 0.41 to 0.61, marking an almost 49 percent increase. Those identifying with two or more races also saw a rise, from 1.48 to 1.91. The proportion of white individuals decreased by about 6.46 percent, from 58.40 to 54.63. Those identifying as Hispanic witnessed an increase from 2.25 to 2.99, while the portion that identified as Black increased from 36.72 to 39.22. The percentage of American Indian and Alaskan Native individuals saw a slight decrease from 0.74 to 0.64.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 58.4% | 54.63% | -6.46% |
| Black | 36.72% | 39.22% | 6.81% |
| Hispanic | 2.25% | 2.99% | 32.89% |
| Two or More Races | 1.48% | 1.91% | 29.05% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.74% | 0.64% | -13.51% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.41% | 0.61% | 48.78% |