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

Defoe, 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 Defoe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Defoe in America

Defoe is the 15771st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Defoe surname appeared 1,848 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 Defoe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Defoe 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 Defoe

The surname Defoe has its origins in France, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French term "de la foy," meaning "of the faith," suggesting that the name may have been associated with individuals who were particularly devout or involved in religious matters.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Defoe surname can be found in the archives of the town of Caen in Normandy, where a certain Jean Defoe was listed as a resident in the year 1587. This provides a glimpse into the geographical origins of the name and its potential connection to the Normandy region.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Defoe, Deffoë, and Defeau. These variations likely arose due to regional differences in pronunciation and the influence of different languages and dialects.

In England, the Defoe surname gained particular prominence with the life and works of Daniel Defoe, the renowned writer and journalist born in 1660. Defoe is best known for his novel "Robinson Crusoe," which is often credited as one of the earliest English novels and a pioneering work of realistic fiction.

Another notable figure with the Defoe surname was Jacques Defoe, a 17th-century French engraver and painter who was active in Paris during the reign of Louis XIV. His works were highly regarded and can be found in various art collections across Europe.

The Defoe name also appears in historical records from the Netherlands, with a prominent example being Hendrik Defoe, a Dutch merchant and trader who lived in the late 16th century. He was known for his involvement in the thriving spice trade between the Netherlands and the East Indies.

In Scotland, the Defoe surname can be traced back to the 18th century, with records showing a family of Defoes residing in the region of Aberdeenshire. One notable member of this family was Robert Defoe, a successful businessman and landowner who lived from 1730 to 1812.

Another individual of note was Marie-Anne Defoe, a French playwright and author who lived during the late 18th century. Her works, which explored themes of love, betrayal, and societal norms, were widely performed and acclaimed in her time.

While the Defoe surname may have originated in France, it has since spread across various parts of Europe and beyond, with individuals bearing this name contributing to diverse fields such as literature, art, business, and trade.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Defoe

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

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

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

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