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

Bonheur, 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 Bonheur surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bonheur in America

Bonheur is the 79846th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bonheur surname appeared 238 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 Bonheur.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bonheur 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 Bonheur

The surname Bonheur has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "bonheur," meaning happiness or good fortune. The name likely emerged as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a person's cheerful or fortunate disposition.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name Bonheur appeared in various regions of northern France, including Normandy, Picardy, and Île-de-France. It was often found in Medieval records and documents, such as tax rolls, census records, and parish registers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bonheur can be found in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres, a cartulary from the Abbey of Saint-Père in Chartres, dated around 1160. The document mentions a certain "Robertus Bonheur" as a witness to a land transaction.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name Bonheur was Jean Bonheur, a French merchant and landowner from the city of Rouen. Born in 1312, he was known for his successful trading ventures and acquisition of significant properties in the region.

The Bonheur surname was also found in various forms and spellings throughout history, such as Bonheurs, Bonhure, and Bonhur. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and scribal variations in record-keeping.

Another prominent individual with the surname Bonheur was François Bonheur, a French painter and engraver who lived in the 16th century (c. 1535-1610). He was renowned for his landscapes and religious works, many of which can still be found in museums and churches across France.

During the 17th century, the Bonheur family established roots in the town of Béziers, in the Languedoc region of southern France. Jacques Bonheur (1620-1687), a successful merchant and vineyard owner, played a significant role in the local economy and community.

In the 19th century, Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899) became one of the most celebrated female artists of her time. Born in Bordeaux, she gained international acclaim for her realistic depictions of animals, particularly horses and farm animals. Her masterpiece, "The Horse Fair," is a monumental work that solidified her reputation as a leading painter of the Realist movement.

Throughout its history, the surname Bonheur has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, merchants, landowners, and noblemen. While the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has evolved into a distinct surname reflecting the rich cultural heritage of France.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bonheur

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

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

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

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