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

Alert, 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 Alert surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alert in America

Alert is the 133863rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alert surname appeared 126 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 Alert.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alert 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 Alert

The surname Alert is of French origin, originating in the late 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "alerte," which means "watchful" or "vigilant." This surname was likely given to individuals who were known for their alertness or attentiveness, perhaps serving as sentries or guards.

The earliest known record of the surname Alert can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. In this document, there is an entry for a landowner named Alard de Alerte, indicating the surname's presence in Normandy during that period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Alert was Sir Robert Alert, a Norman knight who accompanied William the Conqueror during the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Sir Robert Alert was granted lands in Warwickshire for his service and bravery in battle.

Another notable figure was Jean Alert, a French merchant and explorer who lived in the 14th century. Jean Alert is credited with establishing trade routes between France and the Middle East, bringing spices and silk to Europe. He documented his travels in a manuscript titled "Voyages en Terre Sainte" (Voyages to the Holy Land), which is preserved in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

During the 16th century, the surname Alert was prominent in the region of Normandy, particularly in the towns of Rouen and Caen. One notable resident was Jeanne Alert (1525-1592), a renowned herbalist and apothecary who practiced in Rouen. Her knowledge of medicinal plants and remedies was widely sought after, and she is credited with promoting the use of various herbs in traditional French medicine.

In the 17th century, the Alert surname gained recognition in the literary world with the works of Pierre Alert (1635-1712), a French dramatist and playwright. His most famous work, "La Coquette Vengée" (The Coquette Avenged), was performed at the Comédie-Française in Paris and received critical acclaim.

Another notable figure was Jacques Alert (1672-1748), a French architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Paris and the surrounding regions. His most notable work is the Église Saint-Sulpice, a prominent church in the Latin Quarter of Paris, which he completed in 1745 after nearly a century of construction.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alert

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

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 Alert 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 Alert 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 Alert was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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