Dardenne
A French surname derived from the region of Ardennes in northeastern France.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 274 Americans carry the last name Dardenne. That puts it at #77,522 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,250,928 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dardenne 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
274
1 in 1,250,928
Census rank
#77,522
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
247
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 247 bearers of the surname Dardenne in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 77522nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dardenne, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.1%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (7.3%) and Two or More Races (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dardenne
The surname Dardenne originated in France, specifically in the northern region of Artois. It can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 10th or 11th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "dard," meaning "dart" or "arrow." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been skilled archers or soldiers who used bows and arrows.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dardenne can be found in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Vaast d'Arras, a medieval manuscript dating back to the 12th century. This document mentions a certain "Robertus Dardenne" from the village of Dainville, near Arras.
In the 13th century, the name appears in the Taille de Tournai, a tax roll from the city of Tournai, which was then part of the County of Flanders. This record lists several individuals with the surname Dardenne, indicating that the name was well-established in the region by that time.
During the Renaissance period, a notable figure bearing the Dardenne name was Jean Dardenne, a French poet and playwright who lived in the 16th century (c. 1510-1580). He was known for his works inspired by classical mythology and his contributions to the development of French Renaissance literature.
Another prominent individual was François Dardenne (1677-1743), a French architect and engineer who worked on various projects in Paris and other parts of France during the reign of Louis XIV and Louis XV.
In the 19th century, Edmond Dardenne (1834-1911) was a Belgian lawyer and politician who served as the Minister of Justice and Education in Belgium from 1895 to 1899.
The surname also spread beyond France to other parts of Europe, including Belgium, where it became well-established. One notable Belgian bearer of the name was the Dardenne brothers, Jean-Pierre (born 1951) and Luc (born 1954), renowned filmmakers known for their socially conscious and naturalistic films, such as "Rosetta" and "The Child."
While the Dardenne surname has its roots in northern France, it has since been carried by individuals across various countries and continents, with bearers of this name making significant contributions in various fields throughout history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dardenne
Among Census respondents with the surname Dardenne, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.1%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (7.3%) and Two or More Races (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Dardenne 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 Dardenne surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native7.3%
- Two or more races2.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Dardenne 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #77,522 | #77,522 | 0.0% |
| Count | 247 | 247 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Dardenne bearers went from 247 to 247 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #77,522 to #77,522.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Dardenne
FAQ
Dardenne surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Dardenne?
The surname Dardenne holds position #77,522 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 274 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Dardenne surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dardenne, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.1%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (7.3%) and Two or More Races (2.8%). 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.