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

Fodor, 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 Fodor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fodor in America

Fodor is the 14213th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fodor surname appeared 2,112 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Fodor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fodor 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 Fodor

The surname Fodor has its origins in Hungary, and it is believed to have emerged around the 13th century. The name is derived from the Hungarian word "fodor," which means "curly" or "wavy," likely referring to someone with curly hair or a person who worked with curled or woven materials.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fodor can be found in the Regestrum Varadiense, a medieval manuscript from the late 13th century, which documented legal proceedings in the Diocese of Várad (present-day Oradea, Romania). This document mentions individuals with the surname Fodor, indicating that the name was already in use during that period.

In the 16th century, the name Fodor appeared in various records and documents from the Kingdom of Hungary, which included parts of present-day Slovakia, Croatia, and Romania. One notable individual from this time was János Fodor (c. 1535-1599), a Hungarian Protestant minister and writer who played a significant role in the Reformation in Hungary.

During the 17th century, the Fodor surname was found in various parts of the Kingdom of Hungary, including the regions of Transylvania and the Partium (now part of Romania). One prominent figure from this era was István Fodor (1687-1764), a Hungarian Reformed minister and author who wrote extensively on theological topics.

In the 18th century, the name Fodor was particularly prevalent in the region of Transylvania, which was part of the Habsburg Monarchy at the time. One notable individual from this period was Gergely Fodor (1778-1844), a Hungarian writer and educator who published works on philosophy and pedagogy.

The 19th century saw the Fodor surname spread across the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with individuals bearing this name found in various regions, including present-day Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Serbia. One prominent figure from this era was József Fodor (1858-1939), a Hungarian lawyer and politician who served as the Minister of Justice in the Austro-Hungarian government.

Throughout history, the Fodor surname has been associated with various professions, including clergy, writers, educators, and politicians. While the name originated in Hungary, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fodor

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

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

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

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