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

Cecile, 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 Cecile surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cecile in America

Cecile is the 116201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cecile surname appeared 150 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 Cecile.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cecile 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 Cecile

The surname CECILE originated in France during the Middle Ages, and is derived from the Latin name "Caecilia", which means "blind". It is thought to have been initially given as a nickname to someone with poor eyesight or a physical disability related to vision.

One of the earliest known records of the name CECILE dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in the Chartularium Monasterii de Campis, a medieval cartulary from the Abbey of Notre-Dame des Champs in Paris. This document mentions a "Robertus dictus Cecile" (Robert called Cecile), suggesting the name was in use as a surname at that time.

In the 14th century, the name CECILE was recorded in various regions of France, including Normandy and Brittany. For instance, a "Johannes Cecile" was mentioned in the records of the Duchy of Normandy in 1345, while a "Guillelmus Cecile" appeared in the records of the Duchy of Brittany in 1388.

During the Middle Ages, the name CECILE was sometimes spelled differently, such as "Cecille" or "Cesille". These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling at the time.

One notable individual with the surname CECILE was Jean Cecile (c. 1470 - c. 1542), a French composer and singer who served as the master of choristers at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. Another was Pierre Cecile (c. 1510 - c. 1580), a French poet and humanist scholar who was a member of the Pléiade, a group of 16th-century poets who sought to revive and reform French literature.

In the 17th century, the CECILE surname appeared in various parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Germany. For example, Adriaen Cecile (1620 - 1678) was a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his still-life paintings and portraits.

Other notable individuals with the surname CECILE include:

• Jacques Cecile (c. 1695 - 1763), a French architect who designed several buildings in Paris, including the Hôtel de la Vrillière.
• Louis Cecile (1755 - 1827), a French painter who specialized in portraits and historical scenes.
• Pierre Cecile (1802 - 1869), a French mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

While the surname CECILE has its roots in medieval France, it has since spread to other countries and regions due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its historical origins and ties to the Latin name "Caecilia" remain an integral part of its etymology and significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cecile

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

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

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

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