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

Cyr, 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 Cyr surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cyr in America

Cyr is the 3029th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cyr surname appeared 11,829 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Cyr.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cyr 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 Cyr

The surname Cyr originates from France, specifically the region of Brittany, and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin name "Cyrillus," which itself comes from the Greek name "Kyrillos," meaning "lordly" or "masterful."

In medieval Brittany, the name Cyr was often associated with individuals who held positions of authority or influence within the local communities. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various parish records and land registries from the 13th and 14th centuries.

One notable early reference to the name Cyr can be found in the Cartulaire de Lanmeur, a cartulary (a medieval manuscript containing transcribed charters and other legal documents) from the Abbey of Lanmeur in Brittany, dated around 1300. This cartulary mentions a certain "Yvon Cyr," who was a landowner in the region.

Another significant historical figure bearing the surname Cyr was Jean Cyr, a prominent merchant and shipowner from the town of Saint-Malo in Brittany, who lived during the late 16th century. Jean Cyr was known for his successful trading ventures with the Americas and the Caribbean, contributing to the economic prosperity of Saint-Malo during that era.

In the 17th century, the name Cyr was also found in various regions of France, particularly in the areas surrounding Paris. One notable individual was Nicolas Cyr (1595-1663), a French engraver and publisher who produced numerous works, including maps and illustrations for books.

Across the Atlantic, the name Cyr eventually made its way to the French colonies in North America, particularly in what is now the province of Quebec, Canada. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in this region was Jacques Cyr (1634-1708), a French colonist who settled in Quebec in the mid-17th century and became one of the progenitors of the Cyr family in Canada.

Another notable Canadian figure with the surname Cyr was Joseph-Édouard Cyr (1869-1951), a prominent Quebec lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons and later as a senator.

Throughout its history, the surname Cyr has been associated with various notable individuals across different fields, including François Cyr (1857-1938), a French-Canadian poet and journalist; Hubert Cyr (1928-2018), a Canadian actor and comedian; and Émile Cyr (1899-1985), a French-Canadian businessman and philanthropist known for his contributions to the city of Montreal.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cyr

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

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

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

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