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

Cartier, 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 Cartier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cartier in America

Cartier is the 11061st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cartier surname appeared 2,873 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 Cartier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cartier 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 Cartier

The surname Cartier originated in France during the Middle Ages. It derives from the Old French word "cartier," meaning a carter or wagon driver. This occupation-based surname reflects the trades and professions of the time when surnames first came into use.

The earliest known records of the Cartier name date back to the 13th century. One notable mention is in the Échevins de Reims, a register of municipal officials from the city of Reims, where a Jehan Cartier is listed in 1275.

By the 14th century, variations of the name had emerged, such as Cartier, Cartiere, and Cartyers. These spellings can be found in various medieval records, including tax rolls and parish registers.

One of the most famous bearers of the Cartier surname was Jacques Cartier (1491-1557), the French explorer who conducted three voyages to what is now Canada. He is credited with claiming the territory for France and giving Canada its name, derived from the Iroquoian word "kanata," meaning village or settlement.

Another notable Cartier was Thomas Cartier (1879-1962), a French-born American jeweler and watchmaker. He founded the Cartier Jewelry Company, which became renowned for its luxury jewelry and timepieces.

In the realm of literature, Cartier is the surname of the French poet and novelist René Cartier (1904-1992), known for his works exploring themes of love, loss, and the human condition.

The Cartier name also appears in historical records from other parts of Europe, such as Belgium and Switzerland, where it may have been introduced through trade or migration.

Throughout history, the Cartier surname has been associated with various professions, from skilled craftsmen to explorers and artists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cartier

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

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

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

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