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

Cavalier, 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 Cavalier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cavalier in America

Cavalier is the 9848th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cavalier surname appeared 3,285 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 Cavalier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cavalier 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 Cavalier

The surname CAVALIER finds its origins in the French language, emerging in the late Middle Ages around the 13th or 14th century. It is derived from the Old French word "cavalier," which means a mounted soldier or knight. The name likely originated in the regions of northern France, particularly Normandy, where the chivalric traditions of knighthood were prominent during this period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the CAVALIER surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census-like records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I. The rolls mention a Robert le Cavalier, suggesting the surname's use among the Norman nobility who settled in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The CAVALIER surname also appears in various medieval manuscripts and records, such as the Calender of Wills and the Patent Rolls, indicating its widespread use among the landed gentry and aristocracy of the time. In the 14th century, a Sir John Cavalier is mentioned as a prominent landowner in the county of Kent, England.

During the English Civil War of the 17th century, the term "Cavalier" became associated with the Royalist supporters of King Charles I, who were known for their flamboyant style and cavalier attitudes. This connection further solidified the surname's connotations of nobility and military service.

Notable individuals with the CAVALIER surname include:

1. Jean Cavalier (1681-1740), a French Protestant leader during the Camisard Revolt against Louis XIV.
2. Sir William Cavalier (c. 1500-1568), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
3. Alain Cavalier (born 1935), a French film director and screenwriter, known for his works such as "Thérèse" and "Le Plein de Super."
4. Juanita Cavalier (1815-1887), a prominent socialite and hostess in New Orleans during the 19th century.
5. Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle (1643-1687), a French explorer and fur trader who claimed the Louisiana territory for France and explored the Great Lakes region.

While the CAVALIER surname has its roots in French nobility and military service, it has since spread globally and taken on various spellings and variations, reflecting the diverse cultural influences and migrations of families over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cavalier

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

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

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

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