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

Faison, 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 Faison surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Faison in America

Faison is the 4267th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Faison surname appeared 8,320 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 Faison.

We can also compare 2010 data for Faison 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 Faison

The surname Faison is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "faiseau," which means a bundle or sheaf of wheat. This name likely originated in the northern regions of France during the medieval period, possibly as an occupational name for a farmer or someone involved in the agricultural trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Faison surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Faisun," indicating that individuals bearing this surname had already established a presence in England by the late 11th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the Faison surname underwent various spelling variations, including Fayson, Faysoun, and Fayshun, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spelling during that era. These variations often corresponded to regional dialects and the preferences of local scribes.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named William Faisun was recorded as a landowner in the county of Lincolnshire, England. This suggests that by this time, the Faison surname had gained a degree of prominence and social standing.

Another prominent individual bearing this surname was Sir John Faison, a English knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. His valor and loyalty to the crown earned him recognition and land grants.

During the Renaissance period, the Faison surname continued to spread across Europe, with records indicating families of this name residing in regions such as Normandy, Brittany, and the Low Countries.

In the 17th century, a merchant named Thomas Faison established a successful trading company in the city of Bristol, England, contributing to the economic prosperity of the region and further solidifying the Faison name in British history.

Another noteworthy individual was the French philosopher and writer, Jacques Faison, who lived from 1687 to 1761 and was renowned for his influential works on ethics and the human condition.

As the Faison surname spread across various regions, it also became associated with certain place names, such as the village of Faison in North Carolina, United States, which was named after a prominent local family bearing this surname.

While the Faison surname has undergone various transformations throughout history, its origins can be traced back to the agricultural roots of medieval France, reflecting the diverse cultural and occupational backgrounds that have contributed to the rich tapestry of surnames globally.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Faison

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

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

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

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