Colbert
A French surname derived from the Old French word "colbert," meaning "dark-haired" or "coal-black beard."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 26,666 Americans carry the last name Colbert. That puts it at #1,570 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 7.78 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 12,854 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Colbert surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
27K
1 in 12,854
Census rank
#1,570
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
7.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
23K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 22,940 bearers of the surname Colbert in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 7.78 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1570th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Colbert, the largest self-reported group is White at 45.9%. The next largest groups are Black (45.5%) and Two or More Races (3.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Colbert
The surname Colbert is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "col" meaning "neck" and "bert" meaning "bright" or "famous." It is believed to have originated in the medieval era, around the 11th or 12th century, in the northern regions of France.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Colbert can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Coleberd," likely referring to a person with a distinctive or prominent neck.
In the 13th century, the name Colbert was associated with the town of Colbert-sous-Salmaise, located in the Côte-d'Or region of Burgundy, France. This place name may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
During the reign of Louis XIV in the 17th century, Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619-1683) was a prominent French statesman and finance minister. His administrative reforms and promotion of mercantilism played a significant role in the economic development of France.
Another notable figure with the surname Colbert was Édouard-Philippe Colbert (1636-1710), a French nobleman and military officer who served as the Governor-General of French West Indies from 1677 to 1683.
In the 18th century, Jean-Baptiste-Joachim Colbert (1734-1789) was a French nobleman and politician who served as the Minister of State under King Louis XVI.
The Colbert family also had a strong presence in the United States, with notable individuals such as Claudette Colbert (1903-1996), a renowned American actress who starred in films like "It Happened One Night" and "Since You Went Away."
Another prominent American with the Colbert surname was Stephen Colbert (born 1964), a celebrated comedian, writer, and television host known for his satirical news program "The Colbert Report" and his current role as the host of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."
While the surname Colbert has evolved over time, with variations in spelling and pronunciation across different regions, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in northern France, where it was likely associated with a person's physical attributes or place of residence.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Colbert
Among Census respondents with the surname Colbert, the largest self-reported group is White at 45.9%. The next largest groups are Black (45.5%) and Two or More Races (3.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Colbert bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Colbert surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White45.9%
- Black or African American45.5%
- Two or more races3.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Colbert surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,544 | #1,570 | -1.7% |
| Count | 21,306 | 22,940 | 7.7% |
| Per 100K | 7.90 | 7.78 | -1.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Colbert bearers went from 21,306 to 22,940 (+7.7% change). The surname moved down 26 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,544 to #1,570.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Colbert
FAQ
Colbert surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Colbert?
The surname Colbert holds position #1,570 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 26,666 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 7.78 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Colbert surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Colbert, the largest self-reported group is White at 45.9%. The next largest groups are Black (45.5%) and Two or More Races (3.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.