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

Arlequin, 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 Arlequin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arlequin in America

Arlequin is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arlequin surname appeared 110 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 Arlequin.

The history of the last name Arlequin

The surname Arlequin originates from France, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the French word "arlequin," which refers to the character of Harlequin, a zanni or comic servant from the Italian commedia dell'arte. The name is believed to have been adopted as a surname by individuals who portrayed the Harlequin character in theatrical performances during that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Arlequin can be found in the records of the Parisian guilds from the 15th century, where it was associated with actors and performers. In the late 16th century, a notable figure named Pierre Arlequin (1550-1612) was a renowned actor and comedian in the city of Paris, renowned for his portrayal of the Harlequin character.

The surname Arlequin has also been linked to the Picardy region of northern France, where it is believed to have originated. In the 17th century, a family bearing the name Arlequin was documented in the town of Amiens, with records indicating their involvement in the local theatre scene.

Throughout the centuries, the Arlequin surname has been associated with various artistic and theatrical endeavors. In the 18th century, a French painter named Jacques Arlequin (1690-1771) gained recognition for his depictions of commedia dell'arte characters, including the iconic Harlequin figure.

Another notable bearer of the surname was the French playwright and actor, Philippe Arlequin (1720-1788), who wrote several comedies and farces that were popular in Parisian theatres during his time.

In the 19th century, the Arlequin surname was also found in the records of the city of Lyon, where a family of actors and performers carried this name. One of their descendants, Marcel Arlequin (1865-1932), became a renowned set designer and costume maker for various theatre productions in Paris.

While the surname Arlequin is not among the most common in France today, it remains a distinctive name with a rich history deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of theatre and performance art.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arlequin

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

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 Arlequin 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.

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

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

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