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

Cherenfant, 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 Cherenfant surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cherenfant in America

Cherenfant is the 42094th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cherenfant surname appeared 516 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 Cherenfant.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cherenfant 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 Cherenfant

The surname Cherenfant has its origins in France, tracing back to the late Middle Ages. The name is believed to be derived from the Old French phrase "cher enfant," which translates to "dear child." This suggests that the name may have initially been bestowed as a nickname or term of endearment, perhaps for a beloved child or as a descriptive surname for someone with a youthful or childlike appearance.

The earliest known record of the Cherenfant surname appears in a 14th-century census conducted in the region of Normandy, France. This document lists a certain Jean Cherenfant, a farmer residing in the village of Coutances. Historical records also indicate that a family bearing this surname lived in the town of Rouen during the 15th century, where they were involved in the textile trade.

In the 16th century, the Cherenfant name gained prominence with the birth of Pierre Cherenfant (1508-1572), a renowned scholar and theologian from Paris. Pierre's works on religious philosophy and his controversial views on the Reformation earned him both acclaim and criticism during his lifetime. Another notable figure was Jacques Cherenfant (1617-1688), a French military officer who fought in the Thirty Years' War and later served as the governor of the Île de Ré.

The Cherenfant surname can be found in various historical documents and records throughout the centuries, often appearing in different spellings such as Cherenffant, Cherenffante, or Cherenfante. These variations were common during the medieval and early modern periods due to inconsistencies in record-keeping and spelling conventions.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Cherenfant family settled in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti), where they established plantations and became prominent members of the colonial society. One notable figure from this era was Marie-Claire Cherenfant (1735-1802), a wealthy plantation owner and philanthropist known for her support of educational institutions in the Caribbean.

Another significant figure bearing the Cherenfant surname was Étienne Cherenfant (1789-1865), a French military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later served as a general in the French Army. His bravery and leadership during the Battle of Waterloo earned him widespread recognition and several military honors.

Throughout its history, the Cherenfant surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, military leaders, plantation owners, and entrepreneurs. While its origins can be traced back to medieval France, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through French colonial expansion and migration patterns.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cherenfant

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

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

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

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