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

Arbour, 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 Arbour surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arbour in America

Arbour is the 22733rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arbour surname appeared 1,127 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 Arbour.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arbour 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 Arbour

The surname Arbour is believed to have originated in the regions of Normandy and Picardy in northern France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "arbor," which means "tree" or "shrub," suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or worked with trees or bushes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a person named "Arbour" who held land in the county of Oxfordshire, England.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Arbor, Arboure, and Arbourer. These variations reflect the influence of regional dialects and the evolution of language over time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Sir William Arbour was recorded as a knight who participated in the Crusades. He was born in 1220 in the village of Arbour, which may have been named after an early bearer of the surname.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in several historical documents, including parish records and tax rolls. One such record mentions a Thomas Arbour, born in 1542 in the village of Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

In the 17th century, the Arbour family established itself in the New World, with several members settling in the English colonies of North America. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of John Arbour, who arrived in Virginia in 1635.

Another prominent figure bearing the surname was Captain William Arbour, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in 1745 in Portsmouth, England, and is known for his involvement in several notable battles against the American forces.

Throughout history, the Arbour surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and public figures. One notable example is the French philosopher and writer Denis Arbour, born in 1674 in Paris, whose works explored themes of morality and ethics.

Overall, the surname Arbour has a rich history that spans several centuries and multiple regions, reflecting the diverse origins and experiences of those who have borne this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arbour

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

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

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

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