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

Desjarlais, 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 Desjarlais surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Desjarlais in America

Desjarlais is the 21868th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Desjarlais surname appeared 1,188 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 Desjarlais.

We can also compare 2010 data for Desjarlais 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 Desjarlais

The surname Desjarlais originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is a locational name derived from the Old French phrase "des jardins," meaning "of the gardens." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near or worked in an area known for its gardens or nurseries.

The earliest recorded instances of the Desjarlais name can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of northern France, such as Normandy and Picardy. Historical records from this period often feature variations in spelling, including Des Jarlais, Desjarleys, and Desjarletz.

One notable reference to the Desjarlais name appears in the Livre des Métiers, a 13th-century manuscript detailing the trades and professions of Paris. It mentions a Jean Desjarlais, a gardener residing in the city during that time.

In the 15th century, the Desjarlais name gained prominence through the exploits of Pierre Desjarlais, a French soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War against the English. Born in 1412, he distinguished himself in several battles and was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield.

Another historical figure bearing this surname was Marguerite Desjarlais, a noted herbalist and apothecary in 16th-century Lyon. Born in 1531, she authored several treatises on the medicinal properties of plants and was highly respected in her field.

During the 17th century, the Desjarlais family established themselves in the Burgundy region of eastern France. Jean-Baptiste Desjarlais (1625-1698), a wealthy landowner and vintner, was instrumental in the development of the region's wine industry.

As the Desjarlais name spread across France, it also found its way to the French colonies in North America. One of the earliest recorded instances was Jean-Marie Desjarlais, who arrived in New France (modern-day Quebec) in 1665 and became a prominent fur trader.

Throughout the centuries, the Desjarlais surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, from horticulture and agriculture to military service and academia. While not as common as some other French surnames, it has nevertheless left a lasting mark on the history and culture of France and its former territories.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Desjarlais

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

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

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

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