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

Bourgeois, 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 Bourgeois surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bourgeois in America

Bourgeois is the 2705th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bourgeois surname appeared 13,325 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Bourgeois.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bourgeois 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 Bourgeois

The surname Bourgeois originated in France, with its earliest recordings dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old French word "bourgeois," which referred to an inhabitant of a town or borough. This term evolved from the Latin word "burgensis," meaning a freeman of a borough or walled town.

The name Bourgeois was initially associated with individuals who resided in or hailed from towns or boroughs, distinguishing them from those living in rural areas or villages. It later became a common surname among the urban middle class, reflecting their status as townspeople and their involvement in trade, crafts, or administrative roles within the town's governance.

Historical records indicate that the Bourgeois surname appeared in various medieval documents, including the renowned Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that individuals bearing this name may have migrated to England during the Norman Conquest or shortly thereafter.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Bourgeois name was Jean Bourgeois, a French playwright and poet born in the late 16th century (c. 1590-1635). He is notable for his contributions to the development of French drama during the early years of the 17th century.

Another prominent figure was the French philosopher and author Victor Bourgeois (1808-1898), who wrote extensively on political and social issues and was a proponent of the concept of "solidarity" as a guiding principle for society.

In the realm of art, the French painter and sculptor Henri Bourgeois (1892-1965) gained recognition for his cubist and abstract works, particularly his sculptural pieces featuring human forms and organic shapes.

The name Bourgeois also has a notable association with the French Revolution, as the term "bourgeoisie" was used to refer to the urban middle class, which played a significant role in the revolutionary events of the late 18th century.

One of the most renowned individuals bearing the Bourgeois surname was the French-American artist and sculptor Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010), whose work explored themes of sexuality, family, and the human psyche through her distinctive and often provocative sculptures and installations.

Throughout history, the Bourgeois surname has been present in various regions of France, as well as in other parts of Europe and the Americas, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural exchanges that occurred over centuries. The name has endured as a testament to its origins in the urban centers of medieval France and the evolving social and economic roles of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bourgeois

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!