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

Blanche, 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 Blanche surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blanche in America

Blanche is the 20149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blanche surname appeared 1,325 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 Blanche.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blanche 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 Blanche

The surname Blanche originated in France, derived from the French word "blanche," meaning "white" or "fair." It traces its roots back to the Middle Ages, around the 12th to 14th centuries.

In its early usage, the name Blanche was likely a descriptive nickname given to individuals with fair complexions or light hair. It may have also referred to someone who worked with white fabrics or materials, such as a bleacher or a launderer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Blanche can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry lists a person named Blanche, indicating the name's presence in the region during the Norman period.

As the name spread across Europe, it took on various spellings and forms. In England, for example, it was sometimes written as "Blanch" or "Blaunche." Similarly, in Italy, the name appeared as "Bianchi," reflecting the Italian word for "white."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Blanche. One prominent example is Blanche of Navarre (c. 1330-1398), the Queen consort of Philippe VI of France. Another is the French philosopher and writer, Maurice Blanchot (1907-2003), known for his influential works on literature and philosophy.

Other notable figures with the surname Blanche include:

1. Francis Blanche (1921-1974), a French actor and comedian.
2. Jacques-Emile Blanche (1861-1942), a French painter and art critic.
3. Auguste Blanche (1811-1889), a French architect and urban planner.
4. William Le Blanche (fl. 1300s), an English merchant and landowner mentioned in records from the 14th century.
5. Jean Blanche (1900-1973), a French film director and screenwriter.

The surname Blanche has also been associated with various place names, such as Blanchland in Northumberland, England, and Blanche-Église in Normandy, France, further reflecting its historical roots and geographic spread.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blanche

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

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

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

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