Explore the Family Name Buffett
The meaning of Buffett
1. Americanized (or perhaps Anglicized; compare 2 below) form of French Buffet: from Old French buffet, which meant ‘bellows’, ‘table’ or ‘cupboard’, and also ‘slap (in the face)’. The surname could thus be a metonymic occupational name or a nickname, e.g. for an angry and violent man. 2. English: probably a variant of Buffard (see Bufford). Alternatively, of French origin (see 1 above). History: The majority of the American Buffetts trace their origin to John Buffet, who lived on Long Island in the second half of the 17th century; he is said to be of French (Huguenot) origin.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Buffett in the United States?
The surname Buffett, based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, saw a slight dip in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 56,526th most popular, but dropped to 59,603rd by 2010, representing a 5.44 percent decrease. During this same period, the actual count of people with the Buffett surname remained relatively stable, increasing just slightly from 338 to 339.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #56,526 | #59,603 | -5.44% |
| Count | 338 | 339 | 0.3% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.11 | -15.38% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Buffett
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname Buffett, also according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, there were some notable shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of Buffetts identifying as White decreased from 77.81 percent to 72.86 percent, while those identifying as Black increased from 16.86 percent to 18.88 percent. Additionally, the percentage of Buffetts identifying with two or more races saw a significant increase from 2.96 percent to 5.01 percent. The Hispanic representation also saw an increase, going from 1.78 percent to 2.06 percent. There was no recorded change for those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 77.81% | 72.86% | -6.36% |
| Black | 16.86% | 18.88% | 11.98% |
| Two or More Races | 2.96% | 5.01% | 69.26% |
| Hispanic | 1.78% | 2.06% | 15.73% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |