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

Chevalier, 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 Chevalier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chevalier in America

Chevalier is the 5412th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chevalier surname appeared 6,431 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Chevalier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chevalier 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 Chevalier

The surname Chevalier originated from the French language, derived from the Old French word "chevalier" meaning "knight" or "horseman". It traces its roots back to the medieval period in France, particularly the 11th to 15th centuries when the feudal system and the code of chivalry were prominent.

During this time, the name Chevalier was often used as a descriptive surname for individuals who served as knights or cavalrymen in the service of nobility or the monarchy. It was a title of honor and respect, signifying the bearer's role as a skilled warrior and member of the knightly class.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Chevalier can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Caballarius" and "Cavalarius," reflecting the French origin and Latin influence.

Over the centuries, the Chevalier surname spread across various regions of France, with notable concentrations in Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France region around Paris. It also gained a presence in other parts of Europe, particularly in areas with French cultural and linguistic influence.

Some notable individuals who bore the surname Chevalier throughout history include Michel Chevalier (1806-1879), a French economist and statesman; Maurice Chevalier (1888-1972), a renowned French actor, singer, and entertainer; Jacques Chevalier (1882-1962), a French philosopher and theologian; Étienne Chevalier (c.1410-1474), a prominent French nobleman and treasurer to King Charles VII; and Gabriel Chevalier (1859-1934), a French sculptor known for his works depicting scenes from rural life.

The Chevalier surname has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout France, such as Chevalier-sur-Drac, a commune in the Isère department, and Château-Chevalier, a village in the Dordogne department. These place names often derived from the presence of knightly families or estates in those areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chevalier

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!