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

Descombes, 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 Descombes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Descombes in America

Descombes is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Descombes surname appeared 115 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 Descombes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Descombes 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 Descombes

The surname DESCOMBES originated in France, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "descombre," which means "to clear away rubbish or debris." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone whose occupation was related to cleaning or clearing land.

The earliest recorded instances of the name DESCOMBES can be found in historical records from the Franche-Comté region of eastern France, particularly in the areas around Besançon and Montbéliard. The name was often spelled as "Descombez" or "Descombes" in these early records.

One notable historical reference to the name DESCOMBES is in the 14th-century manuscript "Cartulaire de Cîteaux," which mentions a certain "Estienne Descombes" from the village of Miserey in Franche-Comté. This document dates back to around 1350 and provides evidence of the name's existence during that time period.

In the 16th century, the name DESCOMBES appeared in various records from the town of Montbéliard, which was part of the Franche-Comté region until it was annexed by France in the 17th century. These records include references to individuals such as Jean DESCOMBES (born around 1520) and Pierre DESCOMBES (born around 1560).

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DESCOMBES outside of the Franche-Comté region is found in the records of the city of Reims, in northeastern France. A certain Nicolas DESCOMBES, born around 1610, is mentioned as a master baker in the city's guild records.

Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname DESCOMBES are:

1. Jean-Baptiste DESCOMBES (1732-1810), a French architect and urban planner who worked on several prominent projects in Paris during the late 18th century.

2. François-Joseph DESCOMBES (1758-1805), a French general who served in the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.

3. Jean-Pierre DESCOMBES (1793-1870), a French magistrate and politician who served as a member of the National Assembly during the French Second Republic.

4. Hippolyte DESCOMBES (1817-1904), a French landscape painter known for his depictions of scenes from the French countryside.

5. Émile DESCOMBES (1858-1920), a French composer and music educator who taught at the Paris Conservatory and composed several operas and orchestral works.

Overall, the surname DESCOMBES has a rich history rooted in the Franche-Comté region of France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It has been associated with various professions and notable individuals over the centuries, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have borne this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Descombes

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

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

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

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