What is the origin of the last name Booker?
Countries of origin for the last name Booker
The last name Booker has a long history and interesting etymology. Here are the facts:
1. The surname Booker is of English origin.
2. It is derived from the occupational name “boker” or “bocher,” which means “butcher” in Middle English.
3. The first recorded instance of the name Booker dates back to the 13th century in Buckinghamshire, England.
4. The name was originally spelled as “Bokere” and “Bokkar” in old English documents.
5. The surname Booker is relatively common, ranked 2,186th in terms of frequency in the United States.
6. According to the 2010 US Census, there were approximately 52,000 individuals with the last name Booker in the United States.
7. The Booker name has been associated with various locations in England, including Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Hampshire.
8. Prominent individuals with the last name Booker include Cory Booker, an American politician, and John Booker, an English mathematician.
Based on the available information, it is evident that the surname Booker originated in England, likely from an ancestor involved in the trade of butchery. The name has continued to be relatively common, particularly in the United States. Given its long history and multiple locations associated with the name, the Booker surname offers a fascinating exploration of genealogy and etymology. While the available facts provide a comprehensive understanding of the name’s origins, there may still be untapped information waiting to be discovered, offering further insight into the story of the Booker surname.
Interesting facts about the last name Booker
- The surname Booker has English origins, deriving from the Middle English word “bocere,” which means “scribe” or “book binder.”
- Recorded variations of the surname Booker include Bocher, Bochier, Bocherel, Bokere, and Bookere.
- The surname Booker is most commonly found in England, especially in the counties of Hampshire, Surrey, and Buckinghamshire.
- Prior to the Norman Conquest in 1066, Booker was a personal name rather than a surname. It became a hereditary surname shortly after the Normans settled in England.
- Booker is also an occupational surname, indicating that the original bearers of the name were involved in bookbinding or bookkeeping.
- In the United States, the surname Booker gained prominence due to the African-American civil rights activist and author, James Booker Jr.
- Booker is a relatively uncommon surname, ranking 2,864th in terms of frequency in the United States.
- The Booker Prize, originally known as the Booker-McConnell Prize, is a prestigious literary award given annually to the best original novel written in English and published in the United Kingdom.