2000
#125,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 126
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Choisser
A surname derived from the Old French "choisir," meaning "to choose."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Choisser. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Choisser surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Choisser in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Choisser, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Choisser
The surname CHOISSER has its origins in France, originating in the late Middle Ages around the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "choisir," meaning "to choose" or "to select." This suggests that the name may have been occupational in nature, potentially referring to a person who selected or chose goods or materials for trade or commerce.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the CHOISSER name can be found in the historical records of the Champagne region of northeastern France. A document from the year 1387 mentions a certain Jean Choisser, who was a merchant dealing in textiles and fabrics. This provides evidence of the name's existence and its potential occupational ties during that time period.
In the 15th century, the CHOISSER name appears to have spread to other parts of France, including the regions of Normandy and Brittany. Historical records from these regions document individuals with variations of the spelling, such as Choissier and Choissière, further indicating the name's evolution over time.
One notable individual bearing the CHOISSER name was Jacques Choisser, born in 1612 in the town of Rouen, Normandy. He was a respected merchant and trader who established successful business ventures with partners in the Netherlands and England, contributing to the local economy and leaving a lasting impact on the regional trade networks.
Another significant figure with the CHOISSER surname was Marie-Anne Choisser, born in 1745 in the village of Dinan, Brittany. She was a renowned herbalist and midwife, highly regarded for her knowledge of medicinal plants and her expertise in assisting with childbirth. Her contributions to the local community and her skills in traditional healing practices were well-documented during her lifetime.
In the 19th century, the CHOISSER name gained further recognition with the birth of Émile Choisser in 1823 in Paris. He was a prominent architect who played a significant role in the urban development of the city, designing several notable buildings and contributing to the architectural landscape of the French capital.
Another notable individual was Léon Choisser, born in 1871 in Marseille. He was a celebrated painter and artist, known for his vibrant depictions of the Mediterranean coastline and the local culture of southern France. His works were widely exhibited and appreciated during his lifetime and continue to be valued by art enthusiasts and collectors today.
The CHOISSER surname has a rich historical legacy, originating from the Old French language and potentially connected to occupations related to trade and commerce. While the name may have evolved in spelling and geographical distribution over the centuries, it remains a testament to the diverse cultural heritage and contributions of individuals bearing this surname throughout the history of France.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Choisser
Among Census respondents with the surname Choisser, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Choisser bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Choisser surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.3% · 112
- Hispanic or Latino2.5% · 3
- Two or more races2.5% · 3
- Black or African American1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Choisser
Choisser appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#135,593
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 124
-2 bearers (-1.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 9,954 places
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
-4 bearers (-3.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 6,456 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #125,639 | 126 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #135,593 | 124 | 0.04 | -2 bearers (-1.6%) | Down 9,954 places |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | -4 bearers (-3.2%) | Down 6,456 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Choisser surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #135,593 | #142,049 | -4.8% |
| Count | 124 | 120 | -3.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Choisser bearers went from 124 to 120 (-3.2% change). The surname moved down 6,456 positions in the national ranking, going from #135,593 to #142,049.
FAQ
Choisser surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Choisser?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Choisser. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Choisser?
Choisser ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Choisser. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Choisser.
Has Choisser become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Choisser went from 124 recorded bearers to 120. That is a decrease of 4 (-3.2%). In the national ranking it fell from #135,593 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Choisser?
Among Census respondents with the surname Choisser, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Choisser in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.3% (112 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Choisser appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.3%), Hispanic (2.5%), Two or More Races (2.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Choisser (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Choisser mean?
A surname derived from the Old French "choisir," meaning "to choose." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Choisser (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Choisser?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.