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

DeSpain, 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 DeSpain surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DeSpain in America

DeSpain is the 8350th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DeSpain surname appeared 3,964 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 DeSpain.

We can also compare 2010 data for DeSpain 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 DeSpain

The surname Despain originated in France in the early medieval period, derived from the Old French phrase "des pains" which translates to "of the breads." It is believed to have been an occupational name for a baker or someone involved in the production or selling of bread.

This name first appeared in written records in the 11th century, with the earliest known reference being a mention of a Renaud des Pains in a charter from the region of Normandy, France, dated around 1070. The surname also appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England ordered by William the Conqueror, with entries for individuals such as Radulfus de Pains and Willelmus des Pains.

Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Despain, Despeine, and Despaigne appearing in different regions. One notable early bearer of this surname was Jean Despain, a French nobleman who fought in the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) and was knighted for his valor in the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

In England, the Despain surname can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many French settlers brought their surnames to the country. One of the earliest recorded examples is that of Richard Despain, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195.

Another significant figure in the history of the Despain name was Sir John Despain, a 14th-century English knight and landowner who held estates in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. He served as a member of parliament and fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence (1296-1357).

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various parts of Europe, including the Netherlands, where a notable bearer was Pieter Despain, a Dutch merchant and explorer who traveled to the East Indies in the early 1600s.

Other notable individuals with the Despain surname throughout history include:

1. Robert Despain (c. 1530-1590), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Archdeacon of Stafford.
2. Jacques Despain (1615-1679), a French mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of calculus.
3. Theophilus Despain (1677-1736), an English architect and builder who designed several notable churches and estates in the Baroque style.
4. Émilie Despain (1791-1862), a French painter and printmaker known for her detailed depictions of floral subjects.
5. William Despain (1828-1901), an American pioneer and settler who helped establish the town of Provo, Utah, and served as its first mayor.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DeSpain

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!