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

Esperance, 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 Esperance surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Esperance in America

Esperance is the 57101st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Esperance surname appeared 357 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 Esperance.

We can also compare 2010 data for Esperance 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 Esperance

The surname Esperance has its origins in France, and is derived from the French word "espérance," meaning hope or expectation. It is believed to have originated as a descriptive name or a nickname for someone who embodied the qualities of hopefulness or optimism.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Esperance can be traced back to the 13th century in the northern regions of France, particularly in areas like Normandy and Picardy. The name may have also been influenced by the Old French word "esperance," which had a similar meaning.

One of the earliest known references to the name Esperance can be found in the Chancery Rolls of England from the year 1278, which mentions a person named "Robert de Esperance." This suggests that the name had already been in use and possibly traveled to England during that time period.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records and documents, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1327, which listed a "William Esperance." Additionally, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included an entry for a "Johannes Esperaunce."

During the Middle Ages, the name Esperance was often associated with individuals who exhibited qualities of hope, faith, or optimism. One notable example is Esperance de l'Espine, a 15th-century French poet and courtier who served under King Charles VII of France.

As the surname spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Espérance, Esperance, and Esperaunce, reflecting regional dialects and variations in pronunciation.

Other notable individuals who bore the surname Esperance include:

1. Richard Esperance (c. 1540-1594), an English poet and translator during the Elizabethan era.
2. Jean-Baptiste Esperance (1675-1742), a French Baroque painter known for his religious works.
3. Marie-Anne Esperance (1756-1831), a French writer and journalist who advocated for women's rights during the French Revolution.
4. William Esperance (1802-1875), a British naval officer and explorer who charted parts of the Australian coastline.
5. Émile Esperance (1864-1928), a Belgian artist and illustrator known for his Art Nouveau style.

While the surname Esperance may have evolved over time and spread across various regions, its roots can be traced back to the hopeful and optimistic connotations of its French origin.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Esperance

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

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

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

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