Dupuy
From the French place name Puy, referring to a person who lived near a hill or mountain peak.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,113 Americans carry the last name Dupuy. That puts it at #9,192 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.20 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 83,334 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dupuy surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
4.1K
1 in 83,334
Census rank
#9,192
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,548 bearers of the surname Dupuy in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.20 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9192nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dupuy, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.6%. The next largest groups are Black (10.9%) and Hispanic (5.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dupuy
The surname DUPUY has its origins in France, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old French words "du puy" or "du pui", meaning "from the hill" or "from the hillock". This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived on or near a hill or raised ground.
One of the earliest known references to the DUPUY name can be found in the famous Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landholders commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book mentions several individuals with the surname DUPUY, or similar variations like "de Pui" or "de Puiz", indicating their presence in various regions of medieval England.
In the 12th century, a prominent figure named Bertrand DUPUY (c. 1170-1223) served as a military commander and diplomat during the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars in southern France. He played a significant role in the siege of Toulouse and was later appointed as the seneschal of Agen by King Louis VIII of France.
Another notable bearer of the DUPUY name was Jacques DUPUY (1591-1656), a French scholar and bibliophile who amassed a vast collection of rare books and manuscripts. His library, known as the Bibliothèque du Roi, later became part of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the DUPUY name was associated with several places in France, including Puy-de-Dôme, a department in the Auvergne region, and the town of Puy-l'Évêque in the Lot department. These place names likely influenced the spelling variations of the surname, such as "Dupuy-l'Evêque" or "Dupuy-de-Dôme".
In the 18th century, Jean-Baptiste DUPUY (1679-1768) was a renowned French botanist and surgeon. He made significant contributions to the study of plant anatomy and was appointed as the Director of the Jardin du Roi, the royal botanical garden in Paris.
Another notable figure was Pierre DUPUY (1582-1651), a French historian and scholar who served as the royal librarian to King Louis XIII. He was known for his works on the history of France and the papacy, including the influential treatise "De l'origine des dignités et magistrats de France".
The surname DUPUY has been carried by many other individuals throughout history, including military leaders, scientists, writers, and artists, reflecting its deep roots and widespread presence in France and other parts of the world where French culture and influence have spread.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dupuy
Among Census respondents with the surname Dupuy, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.6%. The next largest groups are Black (10.9%) and Hispanic (5.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Dupuy bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Dupuy surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.6%
- Black or African American10.9%
- Hispanic or Latino5.9%
- Two or more races1.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Dupuy surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,850 | #9,192 | -3.9% |
| Count | 3,404 | 3,548 | 4.2% |
| Per 100K | 1.26 | 1.20 | -4.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Dupuy bearers went from 3,404 to 3,548 (+4.2% change). The surname moved down 342 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,850 to #9,192.
FAQ
Dupuy surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Dupuy?
The surname Dupuy holds position #9,192 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 4,113 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.20 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Dupuy surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dupuy, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.6%. The next largest groups are Black (10.9%) and Hispanic (5.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.