The 2010 U.S. Census recorded 14,746 black Americans with Bullock as their last name. That represented 33% of the total of 44,740 entries.
This article tracks their numbers in the census since the Civil War. We also look at historic African American people named Bullock.
We end with a review of early records of black military service in the United States.
After The Civil War
The 1870 census was the first survey after the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. In 1850 and 1860, only free African Americans were recorded in the census. The many enslaved were omitted.
From 1870 onward, all black Americans were included.
1,616 people named Bullock were recorded in the 1870 census as black and 218 as mixed.
There was a total of 7,706 people with the name.
Bullock In The 1900 And 1940 Census
The mixed category was dropped from the census in 1900, so we just need to look at the black numbers this time.
The 1900 census recorded 2,969 people with the last name Bullock as black within a total of 12,753 that year.
By the way, the mixed category returned in the 1910 and 1920 censuses. It was dropped again in 1930, but replaced with extra categories for colored and non-white in a way that seems confusing now.
This changed again in 1940 and we can simply focus on one black category.
The 1940 census recorded 4,861 people named Bullock as black within a total of 22,029.
Historic Black Figures With The Bullock Surname
Here is a notable African American in history with Bullock as their last name.
Carrie Bullock
- Born: About 1887
- From: Laurens, South Carolina
- Died: 1962
Carrie Bullock graduated high school in Concord, North Carolina, in 1904 and taught for several years. She started training as a nurse in Hampton, Virginia, and finished her qualifications at Provident Hospital in Chicago in 1909.
Her leadership qualities are clear from her successive promotions to supervisory roles. She also volunteered for the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN). As Vice-President of the association, she set up a grant to support a black trainee nurse each year.
She eventually became President of the NACGN and was influential in improving conditions and communication for black nurses.
Bullock In Black Military Records
Military records are a rich resource of information for family history research. Here are examples of the Bullock surname from military service.
Buffalo Soldiers
Five regiments for black soldiers were formed during the Civil War. They were known as the Buffalo Soldiers.
Their records are part of the national archive of military monthly returns. The information includes the year and place of birth, where they enlisted, their occupation, and their height.
One of the earliest military entries for Bullock was in July 1891. Barnard H. Bullock was a Private in the U.S. Ninth Cavalry. He was stationed in July 1891 at Camp Bettens, Wyoming.
Another entry was in May 1908. Henry B. Bullock was a Private in the U.S. Tenth Cavalry.
If you are researching military ancestors, there is a free index of these records on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
You have to create an account on either website, but you do not need to pay for the Buffalo Soldiers archive.
Black Civil War Sailors
The National Parks Service has a free archive of African American sailors during the Civil War.
The information includes their age, height, rank, occupation, and where and when they enlisted. It also includes every ship that they served on.
You can search the database on the National Parks website.
Richard Bullock
One of the earliest entries for Bullock was for Richard Bullock from . He enlisted in September 1863 at Cairo when he was aged 25.
The record shows that Richard was assigned on October 1863 to the ship Peosta.
His naval rank was 1st Class Boy.
“1st Class Boy” was a rank generally given to seamen in training, who performed various manual tasks and duties aboard a ship under supervision. This could prepare them for promotion to the rank of ordinary seaman.
John Bullock
One of the later entries was for a sailor who enlisted at Cairo in September 1863. John was aged 25.
He was assigned to the ship Tensas on August 1865.
His naval rank was also 1st Class Boy.