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

Arson, 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 Arson surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Arson in America

Arson is the 137816th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arson surname appeared 112 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Arson.

The history of the last name Arson

The surname Arson has its origins in medieval France, appearing around the 13th century. It is believed to have initially surfaced in the northern regions of the country, primarily in Normandy and Brittany. The etymology of Arson links it to the Old French term "ars," meaning "to burn," indicative of occupational surnames that became common in Europe during that period. This base word likely referred to someone who worked with fire or was responsible for controlled burning in agricultural or land-clearing settings.

Historical records from the medieval period provide fragments of references to the surname Arson. In 1275, a manuscript found in the archives of Rouen documents a land transaction involving a Pierre Arson. Further, in 1312, a Jacque Arson is mentioned in ecclesiastical records in Brittany. These early appearances suggest the name was already established by the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

One of the oldest recorded examples of the surname is found in the Villard de Honnecourt sketchbook from 1225, where an individual named Thomas Arson is listed as a builder and mason. This reference indicates the name was not only used among the peasantry but also among skilled tradesmen. The variations in spelling include "Arsoun" and "Harsoun," which appear in 14th-century deed registers of Normandy.

Among notable bearers of the surname Arson, Guillaume Arson (born 1345, died 1402) served as a notable knight in the army of Charles V of France. His valor and contributions in the Hundred Years' War earned him mention in the chronicles of Jean Froissart. Another distinguished figure, Marguerite Arson (born 1510, died 1574), was known for her philanthropic endeavors in Burgundy where she founded an almshouse, known as the "Maison d'Arson."

Moving into the Renaissance period, Claude Arson (born 1589, died 1656) gained repute as an early cartographer whose maps of the Loire Valley were among the first detailed representations of the area. His works were included in the celebrated atlas “Le Théâtre François,” published in 1641.

During the Enlightenment, Jean-Baptiste Arson (born 1692, died 1763) emerged as a prominent philosopher influenced by Voltaire. His treatises on social reform contributed significantly to pre-revolutionary French thought, with his most famous work "Discours sur l'Égalité" published in 1748.

The Arson surname is also linked to military history with Adrien Arson (born 1774, died 1821), who served as a general under Napoleon. His exploits in the Battle of Austerlitz and his later defense of Paris in 1814 were well-documented, earning him recognition in numerous military archives.

Collectively, the history of the Arson surname paints a picture of a name deeply rooted in the medieval and early modern history of France, associated with diverse and notable individuals across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arson

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Arson 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 Arson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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