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

Asselin, 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 Asselin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Asselin in America

Asselin is the 16720th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Asselin surname appeared 1,711 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Asselin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Asselin 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 Asselin

The surname Asselin originated in France, specifically in the region of Normandy, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French personal name "Asselin" or "Ancellin," which itself is derived from the Germanic name "Anselinus," meaning "divine protection."

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 11th century, with the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror.

During the Middle Ages, the Asselin family held lands and properties in various parts of Normandy, particularly in the areas around Caen and Bayeux. The name is also associated with several notable individuals from this period, such as Robert Asselin, a Norman knight who participated in the Third Crusade (1189-1192).

As the Asselin family spread across France, the name underwent various spellings and regional variations, including Ancelin, Ancellin, and Anselin. In the 13th century, the name appeared in documents related to the city of Paris, with references to Jean Asselin, a merchant and landowner.

One of the most significant figures bearing the Asselin surname was Jacques Asselin (1572-1641), a French Catholic priest and theologian. He was a prominent member of the French Oratory and authored several works on theology and spirituality.

During the 17th century, the Asselin family established itself in the region of Brittany, where they held noble status. Notable members from this period include René Asselin (1625-1695), a French nobleman and military officer who served in the French army during the reign of Louis XIV.

In the 18th century, the Asselin surname gained further prominence with the birth of Claude-Nicolas Asselin (1714-1791), a French playwright and poet. He was a member of the French Academy and is best known for his verse tragedies and comedies.

Another notable figure was Olivier Asselin (1815-1889), a French lawyer and politician who served as a deputy in the National Assembly during the Third French Republic.

Throughout its history, the Asselin surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, clergy, military officers, artists, and politicians, reflecting the diverse roles and contributions of this family across different periods and regions of France.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Asselin

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

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

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

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