Explore the Family Name Buzzard
The meaning of Buzzard
1. English: nickname from Middle English busard, bosard ‘buzzard’ (Old French busart), hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way. The buzzard was considered an inferior bird of prey, useless for falconry, and the nickname was therefore probably a derogatory one. 2. Americanized form of Swiss German or South German Bosshart or Boshart. History: As a name of Swiss German origin, originally spelled Bosshart (see 2 above), the surname Buzzard is also found among the American Mennonites and Amish.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Buzzard in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Buzzard has seen a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Buzzard ranked as the 8907th most popular surname in the United States with a total count of 3,379 individuals. By 2010, the rank had dropped to 9845, representing a decrease of 10.53%, and the count of individuals carrying the surname also fell by 2.72% to 3,287. The proportion of the Buzzard surname per 100,000 people decreased by 11.2% over this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,907 | #9,845 | -10.53% |
| Count | 3,379 | 3,287 | -2.72% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.25 | 1.11 | -11.2% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Buzzard
Regarding ethnicity, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there have been some variations in the ethnic identity distribution among those with the surname Buzzard from 2000 to 2010. The majority of individuals identify as White, although this percentage decreased slightly from 90.12% in 2000 to 87.50% in 2010. There were notable increases in both the Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic populations bearing the surname, with their proportions doubling approximately. The proportion of individuals identifying as Two or More Races, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native also increased, albeit at a smaller rate.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 90.12% | 87.5% | -2.91% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 5.42% | 5.78% | 6.64% |
| Two or More Races | 2.43% | 2.95% | 21.4% |
| Hispanic | 1.07% | 2.19% | 104.67% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.41% | 0.82% | 100% |
| Black | 0.56% | 0.76% | 35.71% |