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

DeSaulnier, 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 DeSaulnier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DeSaulnier in America

DeSaulnier is the 127494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DeSaulnier surname appeared 134 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 DeSaulnier.

We can also compare 2010 data for DeSaulnier 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 DeSaulnier

The surname Desaulnier originated in France and is derived from the Old French term "de saulnier," which translates to "of the salt worker." It has its roots in the northern regions of France, particularly in Normandy and Brittany, where salt production and trade were significant industries during medieval times.

The earliest known record of the Desaulnier surname dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have been initially used to identify individuals who were involved in the production, transportation, or trade of salt, which was a highly valuable commodity at the time. The name may have also been associated with individuals who resided near salt marshes or areas known for salt extraction.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the Desaulnier surname can be found in the "Livre des Bourgeois de Rouen," a historical record of the citizens of Rouen, Normandy, from the 14th century. This record includes several individuals bearing the name Desaulnier, indicating their presence in the region during that period.

In the 15th century, the Desaulnier family was well-established in the town of Dieppe, a coastal settlement in Normandy known for its maritime activities and salt trade. Jean Desaulnier (1420-1492) was a prominent merchant and ship owner from Dieppe, who contributed significantly to the town's economic prosperity through his involvement in salt and wine trade with England and the Netherlands.

During the 16th century, the Desaulnier surname gained prominence in the region of Brittany, particularly in the city of Rennes. René Desaulnier (1535-1612) was a notable lawyer and legal scholar from Rennes, who served as a magistrate and authored several influential works on French law.

In the 17th century, the Desaulnier family produced several notable figures, including Pierre Desaulnier (1610-1678), a Jesuit missionary who traveled to New France (present-day Canada) and worked among the indigenous communities, establishing missions and schools.

Another prominent individual bearing the Desaulnier name was Marie-Madeleine Desaulnier (1673-1748), a French nun and educator who founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Le Puy-en-Velay, France. Her order was dedicated to providing education and care for underprivileged children and the elderly.

As the Desaulnier surname spread throughout France, it also found its way to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas, particularly through French colonial expansion and migration. Today, the name Desaulnier remains prevalent in regions with strong French cultural influences, such as Quebec, Canada, and parts of the United States with significant French-Canadian or Acadian populations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DeSaulnier

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

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

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

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