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

Duval, 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 Duval surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Duval in America

Duval is the 4014th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Duval surname appeared 8,851 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Duval.

We can also compare 2010 data for Duval 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 Duval

The surname DUVAL originates from France and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French words "du val" or "de val," which translates to "of the valley." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived or worked in a valley.

The earliest recorded instances of the DUVAL surname can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of France, such as Normandy, Brittany, and Île-de-France. It was often associated with place names that incorporated the word "val," indicating the geographical location where the family or individual resided.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Guillaume DUVAL was mentioned in the records of the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. Another individual, Renaud DUVAL, was listed in the tax rolls of the city of Rouen in the year 1292.

During the 14th century, the DUVAL surname appeared in several historical documents, including the Livre des Bourgeois de Caen (Book of the Bourgeois of Caen), which recorded the names of prominent citizens in the city of Caen, Normandy. One entry from 1346 listed a certain Robert DUVAL.

In the 15th century, a famous French poet and playwright named Claude DUVAL was born in Clermont, Normandy (c. 1425–c. 1495). He is best known for his work titled "La Vie et Testament de Monseigneur de Grignaux," which satirized the nobility.

Another notable figure bearing the DUVAL surname was Pierre DUVAL (1618–1683), a French geographer and cartographer who served as the cartographer to the King of France. He published numerous maps and atlases during his lifetime, including the influential "La Géographie Universelle" (1660).

In the 18th century, a French painter named Aimé DUVAL (1760–1820) gained recognition for his historical and mythological paintings, as well as his portraits of notable figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte.

Throughout history, the DUVAL surname has been associated with various professions and social classes, from poets and artists to scholars and landowners. Its origin and prevalence in France reflect the name's deep-rooted connection to the country's history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Duval

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

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

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

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