Explore the Family Name Birkett
The meaning of Birkett
English (northern): topographic name for someone who lived ‘(by the) birch-covered headland’, northern Middle English birk(e) + he(ve)d, haved (Old English birce, influenced by Scandinavian birki + Old English hēafod or Old Norse hǫfuth). There are many minor places in northern England named from this compound. The main source of the surname may have been Birkhead, near Kendal in Westmorland. There has been some confusion with Burkett.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Birkett in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Birkett has declined over a period of ten years from 2000 to 2010. The census data reveals that the rank fell by approximately 24 percent, from 20,270 in 2000 to 25,064 in 2010. Similarly, the count, or the total number of individuals with the surname Birkett, decreased by nearly 19 percent, from 1,221 in 2000 to 991 in 2010. This shift resulted in a decrease in the proportion of people named Birkett per 100,000 - a reduction of about 24 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,270 | #25,064 | -23.65% |
| Count | 1,221 | 991 | -18.84% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.45 | 0.34 | -24.44% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Birkett
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that people with the surname Birkett predominantly identify as White, with an 85 percent share as of 2010, down slightly from 87 percent in 2000. The percentage of people identifying as Black increased from 9.42 percent in 2000 to 11.10 percent in 2010. Notably, there was a significant drop in the proportion of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, falling by about 61 percent. In contrast, the representation of those claiming Hispanic ethnicity rose from zero in 2000 to 2.02 percent in 2010. There was no change in the percentage of individuals identifying as two or more races or as American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 86.57% | 84.96% | -1.86% |
| Black | 9.42% | 11.1% | 17.83% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.02% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.31% | 1.31% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.56% | 0.61% | -60.9% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |