Booth is a surname of northern English and Scottish origin, but arguably of pre 7th century Norse-Viking origins. It is or rather was, topographical, and described a person who lived in a small barn or bothy. Derived from the word "both", the word was used to denote various kinds of shelter, but especially a herdsman's dwelling on a summer pasture. The surname is most popular in Northern England, where early Scandinavian influence was marked, and to some extent in Scotland.
One of the most-recognised persons with the surname Booth, is John Wilkes Booth, an American actor, better known for being the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.
At the time of the British Census of 1881, its relative frequency was highest in Cheshire (4.2 times the British average), followed by Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Aberdeenshire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire and Westmorland. In all other British counties, its relative frequency was below national average. The name Booth may refer to:
A
Aaron Booth (born 1996), New Zealand decathlete
Agnes Booth (1843–1910), Australian-born American actress, sister-in-law of Edwin and John Wilkes Booth Alan Booth (1946–1993), British travel writer Albert Booth (1928–2010), British politician Albert A. Booth (1850–1914), American pioneer and politician Albie Booth (1908–1959), American football player Alfred Allen Booth (1872–1948), British shipowner Andy Booth (born 1973), English retired footballer Andrew Donald Booth (1918–2009), British electrical engineer, physicist and computer scientist Annie Booth (born 1989), American jazz pianist Anthony Clarke Booth (1846–1899), English sergeant, recipient of the Victoria Cross Asia Booth Clarke (1835–1888), American poet, sister of Edwin and John Wilkes Booth
B
Ballington Booth (1857–1940), British-born American Christian minister, co-founder of Volunteers of America and Salvation Army officer Barton Booth (1681–1733), British actor Bill Booth, American skydiving engineer and inventor Brad Booth (born 1976), Canadian professional poker player Bramwell Booth (1856–1929), 2nd General of the Salvation Army Brett Booth, American comic book artist Brian Booth (1933–2023), Australian former cricketer Brian Booth (cricketer, born 1935), English former cricketer Brett Booth, born 1974, he’s the chairman of Australian dwarf society and also the last of the great lovers
C
Calvin Booth (born 1976), American National Basketball Association assistant manager and former player Catherine Booth (1829–1890), co-founder of the Salvation Army with her husband William Booth Catherine Bramwell-Booth (1883–1987), Salvation Army officer born Catherine Booth Booth, granddaughter of Catherine Booth Charles Booth (social reformer) (1840–1916), English social researcher and reformer Charles G. Booth (1896–1949), British-born American writer of detective fiction and Academy Award winner Cherie Blair (born 1954), née Booth, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair Chris Booth (born 1948), New Zealand sculptor Christopher Booth (1924-2012), English clinician and historian Colin Booth (mycologist) (1924–2003), English mycologist and phytopathologist Colin Booth (born 1934), English footballer and winner of two league championship medals Connie Booth (born 1940), American writer, actress and psychotherapist, former wife of John Cleese
D
Dave Booth (born 1948), English football coach and former player
David Booth (ice hockey) (born 1984), American National Hockey League player
David G. Booth (born c. 1946), co-founder and CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors
Dennis Booth (born 1949), British footballer, manager and coach
Douglas Booth (born 1992), British actor
Douglas Allen Booth (born 1949), Anglo-American television producer, writer and cartoonist who co-wrote Scooby Doo
E
Edwin Booth (1833–1893), American actor, brother of John Wilkes Booth
Edwin Henry Booth (1828-1899), English founder of Booths supermarkets
Edwin J. Booth (born 1955), English businessman, chair of Booths, great-great-grandson of Edwin H. Edwina Booth (1904–1991), American actress born Josephine Woodruff Emily Booth (born 1976), British actress and TV presenter Emma Scarr Booth (1835–1927), British-born American novelist, poet Emma Booth-Tucker (1860–1903), Salvation Army officer, 4th child of William and Catherine Booth Ernie Booth (1876–1935), New Zealand rugby union player and coach Eugene T. Booth (1912–2004), American nuclear physicist Evangeline Booth (1865–1950), 4th General of the Salvation Army, 7th child of William and Catherine Booth Evelyn Booth (1897–1988), Irish botanist