Explore the Family Name Bob
The meaning of Bob
1. Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): variant of Bobe. 2. Slovak (also Bób, Bôb) and Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): from Slavic and eastern Yiddish bob ‘broad bean, bean(s)’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a grower of beans or a nickname for a tall thin man. 3. Native American (e.g. Navajo) and African American: adoption of the English personal name Bob (altered short form of Robert) as a surname.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bob in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Bob" has seen an increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 20,180th and by 2010, it had climbed to 19,223rd, marking a 4.74% increase in rank. Similarly, the number of individuals with this surname also increased from 1,228 in 2000 to 1,412 in 2010, showing a significant increase of nearly 15%. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw a modest rise from 0.46 to 0.48 during these years, demonstrating a growth of 4.35%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,180 | #19,223 | 4.74% |
| Count | 1,228 | 1,412 | 14.98% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.46 | 0.48 | 4.35% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bob
The ethnicity distribution for the surname "Bob", according to the Decennial U.S. Census, shows some variance over the decade. The Asian/Pacific Islander group saw a substantial increase of about 71.31%, moving from 2.44% in 2000 to 4.18% in 2010. There was also a minor rise in the percentage of individuals identifying as two or more races, from 3.18% to 3.47%. The white ethnicity saw a slight decrease, from 32.57% to 31.87%, as did the Black ethnicity, which went from 43.73% to 43.27%. The Hispanic group experienced little change, increasing slightly from 3.58% to 3.61%. On the other hand, the proportion of American Indian and Alaskan Natives declined by 6.21%, dropping from 14.50% to 13.60%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 43.73% | 43.27% | -1.05% |
| White | 32.57% | 31.87% | -2.15% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 14.5% | 13.6% | -6.21% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.44% | 4.18% | 71.31% |
| Hispanic | 3.58% | 3.61% | 0.84% |
| Two or More Races | 3.18% | 3.47% | 9.12% |