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

Doyen, 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 Doyen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Doyen in America

Doyen is the 27950th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Doyen surname appeared 858 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 Doyen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Doyen 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 Doyen

The surname DOYEN originated in France during the Middle Ages. It derives from the Old French word "doyen," which means "the eldest" or "the most senior." This word traces its roots back to the Latin word "decanus," meaning "chief of ten."

In medieval times, the term "doyen" referred to the senior or presiding member of a group, such as a cathedral chapter or a monastic community. It was used as a title of respect and authority for those who held leadership positions within religious institutions.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname DOYEN can be found in various historical documents from the 12th and 13th centuries in regions like Normandy, Île-de-France, and Burgundy. Some examples include Guibert Doyen, a cleric mentioned in a charter from 1189, and Renaud Doyen, a landowner recorded in the cartulary of the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris around 1220.

During the Middle Ages, the surname DOYEN was often associated with individuals who held prominent positions within the Church or had close ties to religious organizations. For instance, Jean Doyen (c. 1330-1386) was a French theologian and Chancellor of the University of Paris, known for his works on canon law and his involvement in the Western Schism.

As the surname spread beyond its initial geographic origins, it underwent variations in spelling, such as Doyenne, Doyenet, and Doyennet. These variations were influenced by regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

One notable bearer of the surname was Jacques Doyen (1726-1806), a French sculptor and painter who was elected to the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in 1777. His works included religious sculptures and portraits of notable figures.

Another prominent individual was Émile Doyen (1859-1916), a pioneering French surgeon who made significant contributions to gynecological surgery and the development of surgical instruments. He was known for performing the first successful cesarean hysterectomy in 1889.

In the realm of literature, Remy de Gourmont (1858-1915), a French poet, novelist, and influential critic whose birth name was René Doyen, gained recognition for his avant-garde works and his role in the Symbolist movement.

While the surname DOYEN originated in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who migrated or had ancestral ties to French-speaking regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Doyen

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

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

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

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