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

Constant, 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 Constant surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Constant in America

Constant is the 7929th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Constant surname appeared 4,173 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Constant.

We can also compare 2010 data for Constant 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 Constant

The surname CONSTANT has its origins in France, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Latin word "constans," meaning "constant" or "steadfast." The name was likely given to individuals who exhibited these qualities or had a reputation for being reliable and unwavering.

During the Middle Ages, the CONSTANT surname appeared in various French records and chronicles, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Picardy. One notable early reference is found in the "Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Wandrille," a medieval manuscript from the 13th century, which mentions a person named "Robertus Constans."

The earliest recorded bearer of the CONSTANT surname is believed to be Geoffroy Constant, who lived in the village of Bellencombre, Normandy, in the late 12th century. Another early example is Jean Constant, a prominent merchant from Rouen, Normandy, who was mentioned in local records around 1240.

As the surname spread across France, it evolved into different spellings, such as Constans, Constante, and Constante. Some of these variants were influenced by regional dialects and scribal errors in historical documents.

One notable figure with the CONSTANT surname was Jacques Constant (1550-1629), a French jurist and legal scholar who served as the President of the Parliament of Normandy. Another prominent individual was Benjamin Constant (1767-1830), a Swiss-born French novelist, philosopher, and political activist who played a significant role in the liberal movement during the French Revolution.

In England, the CONSTANT surname can be traced back to the 16th century, likely introduced by French Huguenot refugees fleeing religious persecution. One of the earliest recorded instances is John Constant, who was born in London around 1590.

Other notable bearers of the CONSTANT surname include:

1. Louis Constant Wairy (1778-1845), a French painter known for his portraits and historical scenes.
2. Alphonse Constant (1810-1875), a French artist and engraver who specialized in portrait miniatures.
3. Émile Constant (1857-1936), a French composer and conductor who taught at the Paris Conservatory.
4. Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863), better known as Eugène Delacroix, a renowned French Romantic artist known for his exceptional use of color and dramatic compositions.

While the CONSTANT surname has French origins, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by immigrants and families over the centuries. However, this report focuses solely on the historical background and notable bearers of this surname from its inception until the 19th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Constant

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

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

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

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