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

Altier, 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 Altier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Altier in America

Altier is the 31360th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Altier surname appeared 739 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 Altier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Altier 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 Altier

The surname Altier is believed to have originated in France during the medieval period. It is a locative name, derived from the Old French word "altier," which means "high" or "lofty." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived in a place situated at a high elevation or on a hilltop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Altier surname can be found in the historic records of the Duchy of Burgundy, dating back to the 13th century. These records include references to individuals with variations of the name, such as Altiere, Aultier, and Haultier.

During the Middle Ages, the Altier name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Franche-Comté and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France. These areas were known for their rugged terrain and numerous hilltop villages and fortifications, which likely contributed to the origin and widespread use of the name.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Jean Altier (c. 1320-1385) was recorded as a wealthy landowner and merchant in the town of Besançon, located in the Franche-Comté region. He played a significant role in the local economy and politics of the time.

Another notable individual bearing the Altier surname was Jacques Altier (1562-1637), a French clergyman and theologian from Dijon. He was a prominent figure in the Catholic Church and served as the Bishop of Autun from 1628 until his death.

In the 17th century, the Altier family established a presence in the region of Champagne, where they were involved in the wine trade. One member of the family, Pierre Altier (1622-1698), was a well-known vintner and vineyard owner in the village of Épernay.

During the French Revolution, a military officer named François Altier (1756-1818) gained recognition for his service in the French Revolutionary Wars. He rose through the ranks and eventually attained the rank of général de division (major general) in Napoleon's Grande Armée.

Another notable figure was the French artist and sculptor, Jules Altier (1830-1903). Born in Paris, he was renowned for his intricate marble sculptures and worked on several prestigious commissions, including decorative works for the Palais Garnier (Paris Opera House).

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Altier surname throughout history, demonstrating its French origins and its presence across various regions and professions over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Altier

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

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

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

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