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

Flournoy, 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 Flournoy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Flournoy in America

Flournoy is the 6370th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Flournoy surname appeared 5,344 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Flournoy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Flournoy 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 Flournoy

The surname Flournoy has its origins in France, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "flour," meaning "flour" or "flower," which could suggest a connection to a miller's trade or a location known for its abundance of flowers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the department of Haute-Garonne in southwestern France, where the village of Flournoy is situated. This place name likely influenced the formation of the surname, as it was common for people to adopt surnames based on their place of origin or residence.

In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname Flournoy was Jacques Flournoy (1620-1692), a French Huguenot who fled religious persecution and settled in the Netherlands. His descendants later emigrated to the American colonies, establishing the Flournoy lineage in the United States.

Another influential figure was John James Flournoy (1733-1812), an American politician and lawyer who served as a delegate from Virginia to the Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary War. He played a significant role in the formation of the United States Constitution.

Thomas Flournoy (1774-1855) was a prominent American military officer and politician who served as the 11th United States Secretary of War under President James Madison during the War of 1812. His leadership and strategic decisions shaped the course of the war and the development of the United States military.

In the literary realm, Édouard Flournoy (1815-1902) was a Swiss writer and translator known for his works in French literature. He contributed to the translation of several notable English authors into French, including William Shakespeare and Lord Byron.

Robert Thurston Flournoy (1885-1972) was an American architect recognized for his innovative designs and contributions to the field of architecture. He was responsible for designing numerous buildings and structures across the United States, leaving a lasting impact on the architectural landscape.

Throughout history, the surname Flournoy has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, military leaders, writers, and architects. While its origins can be traced back to France, the name has gained significance and recognition in other parts of the world, particularly in the United States.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Flournoy

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

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

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

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