Explore the Family Name Bodkin
The meaning of Bodkin
Irish (Galway) and English (Kent): from an unrecorded Middle English personal name Bodekin, an Anglo-Norman borrowing of Middle Dutch Bodekin, a pet form of the personal name Baldwin. The name was described by McLysaght as the name of one of the ‘Tribes of Galway’ in Ireland.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bodkin in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Bodkin saw a decline from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it ranked 14,731 and dropped to 16,370 by 2010, indicating an 11.13% decrease. The number of individuals with this surname also fell during this period, from 1,849 in 2000 to 1,759 in 2010, which equates to a reduction of 4.87%. Additionally, the proportion of people bearing the Bodkin surname per 100,000 population decreased by 13.04%, suggesting a lesser prevalence of the name in the general population.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,731 | #16,370 | -11.13% |
| Count | 1,849 | 1,759 | -4.87% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.69 | 0.6 | -13.04% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bodkin
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some changes over the decade. The vast majority of people with the surname Bodkin identified as White in both years, although there was a slight decrease from 92.10% in 2000 to 90.79% in 2010. There were no individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native during these years. However, individuals identifying as Hispanic and Black saw increases of 34.25% and 25.76% respectively. Those identifying with two or more races decreased by 32.59%. This suggests a modest diversification in the ethnic identities associated with the Bodkin surname over this time period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.1% | 90.79% | -1.42% |
| Black | 3.3% | 4.15% | 25.76% |
| Hispanic | 2.54% | 3.41% | 34.25% |
| Two or More Races | 1.35% | 0.91% | -32.59% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |