Allard
A French habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "to the clearing" or "dweller at the clearing."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 11,688 Americans carry the last name Allard. That puts it at #3,553 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.41 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 29,325 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Allard surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
12K
1 in 29,325
Census rank
#3,553
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
10K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 10,047 bearers of the surname Allard in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.41 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3553rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Allard, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Allard
The surname Allard originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "alard" or "allard," which means "vigorous" or "brave." The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who displayed these qualities.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Allard can be found in medieval French records and documents. One notable example is the mention of a knight named Renaud Allard in the 13th-century manuscript "Histoire de la Guerre de Navarre."
In the 14th century, the Allard family established themselves in the region of Normandy, where they held lands and titles. Records from this time period show variations of the spelling, such as "Allart" and "Alard."
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Jean Allard, a French merchant and explorer who was born in the late 15th century. He is credited with being one of the first Europeans to establish trade relations with the Indigenous peoples of Canada.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Allard name spread throughout France, with several notable figures emerging. Jean Allard (1515-1595) was a French Protestant theologian and author who played a significant role in the Reformation. André Allard (1635-1696) was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Church of Saint-Sulpice.
The name also gained prominence in other parts of Europe. In England, Sir William Allard (1587-1666) was a prominent lawyer and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1654. In Scotland, Robert Allard (1720-1801) was a respected philosopher and professor at the University of Edinburgh.
As the Allard family continued to spread across Europe and eventually to other parts of the world, the name evolved to include various spellings and variations, such as Allardt, Alard, and Allart.
Throughout history, the surname Allard has been associated with notable individuals in various fields, including Jean-François Allard (1806-1886), a French general who fought in the Napoleonic Wars, and Auguste Allard (1828-1899), a Belgian painter known for his historical and religious works.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Allard
Among Census respondents with the surname Allard, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Allard bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Allard surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races2.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.9%
- Black or African American1.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Allard surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,553 | #3,553 | 0.0% |
| Count | 10,047 | 10,047 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 3.41 | 3.41 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Allard bearers went from 10,047 to 10,047 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #3,553 to #3,553.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Allard
FAQ
Allard surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Allard?
The surname Allard holds position #3,553 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 11,688 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.41 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Allard surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Allard, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (2.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.