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

Donat, 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 Donat surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Donat in America

Donat is the 21811th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Donat surname appeared 1,192 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 Donat.

We can also compare 2010 data for Donat 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 Donat

The surname Donat is of French origin, with its roots traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin name "Donatus," which means "given" or "gifted." The name was initially associated with individuals who were either born on a significant religious day or were considered a gift from God.

In the early days, the name Donat was predominantly found in the regions of Provence and Languedoc in southern France. Historical records indicate that it was often spelled as "Donat" or "Donnat" during those times. The name's earliest known appearance was in the Benedictine monastery records of Marseille, dated around 1150.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Donat was Pierre Donat, a renowned scholar and theologian from Montpellier, who lived in the late 13th century. He authored several treatises on canon law and was highly regarded in academic circles.

Another notable figure with the surname Donat was Jean Donat, a French soldier and explorer who accompanied Jacques Cartier on his voyages to the New World in the 16th century. He played a crucial role in establishing early French settlements in Canada.

In the 17th century, the name Donat was closely associated with the French nobility. The Donat family of Provence held significant land and titles during this period. One of the most prominent members was Louis Donat, Marquis de Rochemure, who served as a military commander under King Louis XIV.

The surname Donat also appears in several historical documents from the Middle Ages, including the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Victor de Marseille, a collection of charters and deeds from the 11th to the 14th centuries. This suggests that the name was well-established in the Provençal region during that time.

In the realm of arts and literature, one cannot overlook the contributions of the French writer and philosopher, Alphonse Donat, who lived from 1805 to 1889. His works on aesthetics and philosophy had a profound influence on the intellectual landscape of 19th-century France.

Throughout history, the surname Donat has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, explorers, nobility, and artists. While its origins can be traced back to southern France, the name has since spread across Europe and beyond, carrying with it a rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Donat

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

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

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

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