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

Detour, 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 Detour surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Detour in America

Detour is the 142108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Detour surname appeared 117 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 Detour.

We can also compare 2010 data for Detour 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 Detour

The surname DETOUR originates from the French language and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "destour," which meant "a circuitous route" or "a deviation from the direct path." This word itself was derived from the Latin "deviare," meaning "to deviate."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DETOUR can be found in a 1592 municipal record from the city of Lyon, France. In this document, a merchant named Pierre DETOUR is mentioned as a landowner in the region. The name's association with trade and travel during this period suggests that it may have been adopted by individuals who frequently took circuitous routes or detours in their travels.

In the 17th century, the DETOUR surname appeared in several French genealogical records, indicating its spread across various regions of the country. One notable individual was Jacques DETOUR (1623-1698), a farmer and landowner from the Normandy region who was known for his extensive knowledge of local geography and often served as a guide for travelers navigating the area's winding paths.

As the name continued to evolve, it also found its way into historical literature. In the 1789 novel "La Nouvelle Héloïse" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a character named Monsieur DETOUR is described as a resourceful traveler who frequently sought alternative routes to avoid obstacles and challenges on his journeys.

Moving into the 19th century, the DETOUR surname gained international recognition with the exploits of the French explorer and naturalist, François DETOUR (1808-1882). His expeditions across Africa and Asia were marked by numerous detours and diversions as he sought to document the region's flora and fauna.

Another prominent figure with the DETOUR surname was the French philosopher and writer, Émile DETOUR (1854-1917), whose works often explored the metaphorical concept of "detours" in life and the importance of embracing unexpected paths and experiences.

While the DETOUR surname is not as common today as it once was, it remains a testament to the rich history of travel, exploration, and the human spirit's ability to adapt and find new paths when faced with obstacles.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Detour

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

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

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

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