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

Charpentier, 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 Charpentier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Charpentier in America

Charpentier is the 11003rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Charpentier surname appeared 2,891 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 Charpentier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Charpentier 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 Charpentier

The surname Charpentier originated in France during the Middle Ages. It derives from the Old French word "charpentier," meaning a carpenter or woodworker. The name likely emerged as a descriptive occupational surname for those who practiced the skilled trade of woodworking and construction.

The earliest recorded instances of the Charpentier name can be found in various medieval documents, such as tax records, land registries, and parish records. One notable example is the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror, which mentions individuals with the name Charpentier or similar spellings.

During the Middle Ages, carpentry was a highly respected and essential profession, responsible for constructing buildings, furniture, and other wooden structures. As such, the Charpentier name carried a certain prestige and was often associated with skilled craftsmen and artisans.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Charpentier was Jean Charpentier, a French architect and engineer who lived in the 13th century. He is credited with designing and overseeing the construction of several notable Gothic cathedrals, including parts of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris.

Another prominent figure was François Charpentier (1619-1702), a French playwright and poet who was a member of the Académie Française. His works, which included comedies and tragedies, were celebrated during the reign of King Louis XIV.

In the realm of music, Jacques Charpentier (1933-2017) was a renowned French composer and conductor. He is particularly known for his sacred works, including masses and oratorios, as well as his film scores and operas.

The Charpentier name also has a connection to the French Revolution. Pierre Charpentier (1763-1816) was a revolutionary leader and politician who served as a member of the National Convention and later as a deputy in the Council of Five Hundred.

Finally, Gustave Charpentier (1860-1956) was a French composer and conductor who is best known for his opera "Louise," which premiered in 1900 and became a staunch representation of the French Realist movement in music.

Throughout history, the Charpentier surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, reflecting the diverse roles and contributions of those who bore this name rooted in the ancient craft of carpentry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Charpentier

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

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

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

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