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

Compere, 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 Compere surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Compere in America

Compere is the 31251st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Compere surname appeared 742 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 Compere.

We can also compare 2010 data for Compere 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 Compere

The surname Compere originated in France during the Middle Ages, derived from the French word "compère," meaning "gossip" or "close friend." This name initially referred to a godfather or someone who played a special role in a person's life, akin to a close friend or confidant.

The earliest known reference to the name Compere can be found in the Domesday Book, a land survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This record indicates the presence of individuals bearing the name in various parts of Normandy, suggesting the name's French roots.

In the 12th century, the Compere name appeared in local parish records and village chronicles across northern France, particularly in the regions of Picardy, Normandy, and Île-de-France. The name was often spelled with variations such as Compair, Compere, or Comper, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Compere was Jean Compere, a renowned composer and singer who lived in the 15th century (c. 1420-1475). He served as a member of the Burgundian court chapel and was highly regarded for his contributions to sacred and secular music during the Renaissance period.

In the 16th century, the Compere name gained prominence in the region of Brittany, where several notable figures emerged. Jacques Compere (c. 1550-1620) was a respected lawyer and jurist who served as a judge in the Parlement of Brittany, while Pierre Compere (c. 1570-1640) was a renowned poet and playwright celebrated for his works in the Breton language.

During the 17th century, the Compere family established roots in the city of Paris, where they became prominent merchants and traders. One of the most notable members of this lineage was Nicolas Compere (1628-1699), a successful businessman and philanthropist who funded the construction of several churches and charitable institutions in the city.

Another notable figure was Marie Compere (1698-1780), a renowned botanist and naturalist from the Burgundy region. She made significant contributions to the study of local flora and fauna, and her extensive collections and writings were highly regarded by the scientific community of her time.

In the 19th century, the Compere name gained recognition in the field of literature, with the acclaimed writer and poet Victor Compere (1825-1892). Born in Normandy, he was celebrated for his poetic works that captured the essence of rural life and the natural beauty of the French countryside.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Compere

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

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

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

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