The Booker surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 36,840 people carried this name — #941 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 8,010 people counted. That is up 5% from 35,101 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Booker surname

A surname originating as an occupation for either a scribe or bookbinder, or a bleacher of cloth.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Booker» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as an occupational name: ‘the butcher’.

An early record he cites: John Boker, Norfolk, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 118 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Booker was found among the farmers of 2 counties.

It was most frequent in Sussex: 14 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 714. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Sussex 14
Derbyshire 9

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

113 families named Booker, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 592 people lived in those households, 5.2 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 6 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Virginia 45
Maine 26
Pennsylvania 16
Maryland 8
Massachusetts 7
North Carolina 5
South Carolina 5
Vermont 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 230 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Booker in American newspapers,
1901–1929.

Newspaper page from Rawlins Republican carrying the name Booker
Rawlins Republican 1901-08-31
Newspaper page from South Bend News-times carrying the name Booker
South Bend News-times 1929-05-12
Newspaper page from The Daily Sentinel carrying the name Booker
The Daily Sentinel 1913-05-10

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 6,529 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Booker in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1990s.

26,069 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Booker. The most, 5,880, date from the 1910s. Queensland has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 4.2 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 12,820
New South Wales 4,633
Victoria 3,513
South Australia 3,058
Western Australia 1,188
Tasmania 549
ACT (Canberra) 152
Northern Territory 130

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Booker.

Who carried it

People named Booker,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Booker
    John Booker 1603–1667 · astrologer
  • Luke Booker
    Luke Booker 1762–1837 · poet
  • Patricia Booker d. 2000 · flight attendant
  • Aileen Mary Booker d. 1963
  • Hope Booker 1675– · signare
  • Francis Booker 1746–1806 · cricketer

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Booker,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,400 records

2,400 records of the Booker name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,065
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 623
  • Other U.S. records 712
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Harvey Watkins Booker

    Born 1941; from New Orleans, Louisiana. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1968 in Long An, South Vietnam. Buried at Port Hudson National Cemetery, Louisiana.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Zora M. Booker

    Born 1907 in Texas. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Sam Houston; farm hand from Llano County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1964, buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Booker

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Germanic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 45; laborer. From London, England; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 2,400 records for Booker in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia479 records

479 records of the Booker name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 227
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 98
  • Other Australian records 154
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Noah Booker

    Died 1904 in Launceston, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1904.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record John Henry Booker

    Born 1873 in Longford, Tasmania. Married 1898 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 25.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Thomas Booker

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Isabella, arriving 1823; ticket of leave 1832. Native of Cavan.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 479 records for Booker in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Netherlands225 records

225 records of the Booker name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 114
  • Dutch population registers 106
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 5
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Willem Booker

    Married in 1913 in Oostzaan; factory worker. Died 1954 in Zaandam, aged 65.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Saartje Booker

    Married in 1912 in Oostzaan. Died 1939 in Heerlen, aged 61.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Jannetje Booker

    Born 1908 in Zaandijk. Married in 1933 in Wijk aan Zee en Duin.

    Open Archives, Gemeentearchief Zaanstad (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 225 records for Booker in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada58 records

58 records of the Booker name in Canada
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 24
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 10
  • Other Canadian records 24
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Margaret Bessie Eveligh Booker

    Buried in 1967 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 86.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record William Ernest Booker

    Died 1968 in Truro Heights, Colchester, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Joseph Askin Booker

    Died in service in 1918.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 58 records for Booker in Canada.

Counts: City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

New Zealand35 records

35 records of the Booker name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 17
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 14
  • Other New Zealand records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jemima Booker

    Died 1875, aged 65; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Murial Aidar Ivan Booker

    Died 1966, aged 63; buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record S. Booker

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 35 records for Booker in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

United Kingdom33 records

33 records of the Booker name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 28
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 5
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jane Booker

    Buried in 1819 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 34.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record G. Booker

    Gordon Highlanders. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Booker

    Buried in 1795 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 19.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 33 records for Booker in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

France2 records

2 records of the Booker name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Edwin Jean Booker

    Born 1917 in Le Havre (Seine-Maritime); died 2001 in Albi (Tarn).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Philippe Roland Booker

    Born 1949 in Clichy-La-Garenne (Hauts-de-Seine); died 2000 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Booker.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Booker is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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