2010
#152,628
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Bernoudy
A surname originating from the Old French word "bernout" meaning a brown-haired person.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Bernoudy. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bernoudy surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Bernoudy in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bernoudy, the largest self-reported group is Black at 66.1%. The next largest groups are White (17.8%) and Hispanic (13.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bernoudy
The surname BERNOUDY is believed to have originated in France, specifically in the Normandy region, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French words "Bernart" and "oudier," which translates to "bold bear" or "brave bear." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who displayed bear-like qualities, such as strength and courage.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BERNOUDY can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a certain "Bernoudus de Montfort," who held lands in the county of Dorset, England.
In the 13th century, there are records of a family named BERNOUDY residing in the village of Montfaucon-d'Argonne, located in northeastern France. This village's name is derived from the Latin "Mons Falconis," meaning "Falcon's Hill," indicating a possible connection between the name BERNOUDY and this location.
During the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the name BERNOUDY was Jean Bernoudy (1415-1489), a French physician and scholar who served as the personal physician to King Louis XI. He was renowned for his expertise in the field of medicine and his contributions to the development of medical knowledge during the Renaissance.
Another prominent individual with the surname BERNOUDY was Pierre Bernoudy (1562-1629), a French lawyer and magistrate who served as the Lieutenant General of the Bailiwick of Rouen, a prestigious judicial position in Normandy. His work in the legal system and his commitment to upholding justice earned him a respected reputation during his lifetime.
In the 18th century, the name BERNOUDY gained recognition through the life of Jacques Bernoudy (1725-1798), a French architect and urban planner. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings and urban developments in Paris, including the Place Vendôme and the Rue de Rivoli. His architectural contributions have left a lasting impact on the cityscape of Paris.
Another notable figure was Marie-Thérèse Bernoudy (1789-1865), a French writer and feminist activist. She was a vocal advocate for women's rights and education, publishing several works that challenged societal norms and advocated for gender equality. Her literary and activist efforts influenced the feminist movement in France during the 19th century.
While the surname BERNOUDY has its origins in France, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and historical events. However, the rich history and etymology of this name remain rooted in the medieval period of French history, reflecting the cultural and linguistic diversity of the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bernoudy
Among Census respondents with the surname Bernoudy, the largest self-reported group is Black at 66.1%. The next largest groups are White (17.8%) and Hispanic (13.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Bernoudy bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bernoudy surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American66.1% · 78
- White17.8% · 21
- Hispanic or Latino13.6% · 16
- Two or more races2.5% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bernoudy
Bernoudy appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
+11 bearers (+10.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 9,117 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #152,628 | 107 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | +11 bearers (+10.3%) | Up 9,117 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Bernoudy surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #152,628 | #143,511 | 6.0% |
| Count | 107 | 118 | 10.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -1.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bernoudy bearers went from 107 to 118 (+10.3% change). The surname moved up 9,117 positions in the national ranking, going from #152,628 to #143,511.
FAQ
Bernoudy surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bernoudy?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Bernoudy. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Bernoudy?
Bernoudy ranks #143,511 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 118 people with the surname Bernoudy. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Bernoudy.
Has Bernoudy become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bernoudy went from 107 recorded bearers to 118. That is an increase of 11 (+10.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #152,628 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Bernoudy?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bernoudy, the largest self-reported group is Black at 66.1%. The next largest groups are White (17.8%) and Hispanic (13.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Bernoudy in the 2020 Census, accounting for 66.1% (78 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bernoudy appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (66.1%), White (17.8%), Hispanic (13.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Bernoudy (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Bernoudy mean?
A surname originating from the Old French word "bernout" meaning a brown-haired person. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Bernoudy (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Bernoudy?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.