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

Bourassa, 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 Bourassa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bourassa in America

Bourassa is the 11021st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bourassa surname appeared 2,886 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 Bourassa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bourassa 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 Bourassa

The surname Bourassa originated in France, specifically in the region of Normandy, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "bour," meaning a small settlement or village, and the suffix "-asse," indicating a collective or group. This suggests that the name may have referred to people who lived in a particular village or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bourassa can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name was likely introduced to England by Norman settlers following the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Robert Bourassa was mentioned in the records of the city of Rouen, Normandy. He was a prominent merchant and landowner during that time period.

During the 16th century, the Bourassa family established itself in the region of Brittany, France. One of the earliest recorded members was Jean Bourassa (1520-1588), a wealthy landowner and influential figure in the local community.

In the 17th century, the name Bourassa gained prominence in Canada, where many French settlers emigrated during the period of colonization. One of the most famous individuals with this surname was Henri Bourassa (1868-1952), a Canadian politician and journalist who was a staunch advocate for Quebec autonomy and nationalism.

Other notable individuals with the surname Bourassa include:

• Robert Bourassa (1933-1996), a Canadian politician who served as the Premier of Quebec from 1970 to 1976 and again from 1985 to 1994.
• André Bourassa (1936-2020), a Canadian politician and businessman who served as the Mayor of Montréal from 1986 to 1994.
• Jacques Bourassa (1924-2008), a Canadian painter and sculptor known for his abstract works.
• Napoléon Bourassa (1827-1916), a Canadian architect and engineer who designed several prominent buildings in Montréal.

The surname Bourassa has a rich history, with its origins tracing back to medieval France and its presence spanning across various regions and time periods. It has been associated with notable figures in various fields, including politics, journalism, art, and architecture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bourassa

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

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

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

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