Find out how popular the last name Abelard is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Abelard.

Abelard, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Abelard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Abelard in America

Abelard is the 89753rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Abelard surname appeared 206 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Abelard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Abelard to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Abelard

The surname Abelard has its origins in France, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Latin personal name "Abailardus," which in turn comes from the Old German "Abalhard," meaning "bright" or "shining."

This name gained significant recognition due to the 12th-century French philosopher and scholar Peter Abelard, who became renowned for his tragic love affair with Heloise. Abelard's influence and notoriety likely contributed to the spread of the surname across France and its subsequent adoption by various families.

Historical records indicate that the Abelard surname appeared in various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France. Some of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the "Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres," a medieval manuscript from the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the Abelard surname appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals bearing this name had already established a presence in England at that time.

Notable historical figures with the surname Abelard include Jacques Abelard (1657-1718), a French painter and engraver known for his portraits and religious works, and Augustin Abelard (1776-1859), a French architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris.

Another prominent individual was Jean-Paul Abelard (1793-1869), a French politician and journalist who served as a deputy in the National Assembly during the French Revolution. Additionally, Charles Abelard (1865-1944) was a French artist and illustrator renowned for his illustrations in children's books and magazines.

In the realm of literature, the surname Abelard is associated with the French writer and poet Rémy Abelard (1900-1964), known for his works exploring themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

While the surname Abelard is not as common as some other French surnames, it has left an indelible mark on history, particularly through the legacy of the renowned philosopher Peter Abelard and the various accomplished individuals who have carried this name over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Abelard

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Abelard.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Abelard was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Abelard has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Abelard was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Abelard, please contact us.

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