Explore the Family Name Buffalo
The meaning of Buffalo
1. English: apparently an American English nickname from buffalo, perhaps denoting a large, powerfully built man. Alternatively, perhaps an altered form of an unidentified surname, possibly English Bovill. Compare Buffaloe and Buffalow. 2. Native American: translation into English (and shortening) of a personal name based on a word, such as Lakota and Dakota Sioux tataŋka and Cheyenne hotoa’e, meaning ‘buffalo’ or ‘bull’. See also Bull 5. History: Majority of the Buffalos trace their origin to the brothers Arthur and William Buffelow, who were recorded in NC in 1750s. Their surname was (later) also spelled Buffalow, Buffaloe, and Buffalo. The word buffalo is even nowadays often misspelled buffelow.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Buffalo in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Buffalo has experienced a rise in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 28,142 most common in the United States, but by 2010 it climbed up the rank to 26,471. This represents a positive change of approximately 5.94%. During this same period, the count of people with this last name grew from 801 to 922, an increase of over 15%. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw a slight increase, growing from 0.3 to 0.31.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #28,142 | #26,471 | 5.94% |
| Count | 801 | 922 | 15.11% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.3 | 0.31 | 3.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Buffalo
Analyzing the ethnic identity associated with the surname Buffalo, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there have been some significant changes between 2000 and 2010. The largest percentage identified as White, although that number decreased by about 7.33% during this decade. Another noticeable change was seen in the Hispanic group, which increased dramatically by 181.48%, albeit from a relatively small base. The percentage of individuals identifying as American Indian or Alaskan Native increased by 11.3%. There was no representation reported for Asian/Pacific Islanders, and those indicating two or more races dropped to zero from 2.75%. Meanwhile, the proportion of individuals with the surname Buffalo who identified as Black decreased by 21.50%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 54.31% | 50.33% | -7.33% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 27.09% | 30.15% | 11.3% |
| Black | 14.23% | 11.17% | -21.5% |
| Hispanic | 1.62% | 4.56% | 181.48% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 2.75% | 0% | 0% |