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

Favorite, 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 Favorite surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Favorite in America

Favorite is the 20636th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Favorite surname appeared 1,283 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 Favorite.

We can also compare 2010 data for Favorite 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 Favorite

The surname "FAVORITE" is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "favori," which means "favored one" or "beloved." It is believed to have emerged as a surname in the 12th or 13th century, during the height of the feudal system in France.

The name was likely given to individuals who held a special position of favor or privilege with a noble or royal patron. It may have been bestowed upon courtiers, advisors, or other trusted associates who enjoyed the favor of their lord or monarch.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "FAVORITE" can be found in the "Livre des Bourgeois de l'Ancienne République de Genève" (Book of Burghers of the Ancient Republic of Geneva), dated around 1400. This document mentions a certain "Jean Favorite," suggesting the name's presence in the region during that time.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various records and manuscripts across France, such as the "Rôles des bans et arrière-bans" (Rolls of the Bans and Arrière-bans), which listed individuals summoned for military service. This indicates that bearers of the surname "FAVORITE" held positions of prominence within the nobility or gentry.

One notable figure with this surname was Jacques Favorite (c. 1495-1557), a French nobleman and soldier who served as a lieutenant general under King Francis I. He played a significant role in the Italian Wars and was renowned for his military prowess.

Another prominent individual was Pierre Favorite (1540-1620), a French jurist and magistrate who served as the president of the Parlement of Grenoble, one of the most important judicial bodies in France at the time.

In the 17th century, the name "FAVORITE" gained further recognition with the birth of Marie-Madeleine Favorite (1655-1718), a French noblewoman and courtier to King Louis XIV. She was known for her wit and intelligence and was a member of the renowned literary salon hosted by the Marquise de Lambert.

During the 18th century, the surname "FAVORITE" spread beyond France, with records indicating bearers of the name in other parts of Europe, particularly in regions influenced by French culture and language, such as the Low Countries and parts of Germany.

One noteworthy figure from this period was Jean-Baptiste Favorite (1722-1789), a French botanist and explorer who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the West Indies and South America.

While the surname "FAVORITE" has its roots in France, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by immigrants and descendants of French ancestry. Despite its widespread distribution, the name remains a testament to its origins, reflecting a history of favor, privilege, and distinction among those who bore it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Favorite

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!