Font last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Font

A topographic name for someone who lived near a spring or well, from Old English "funta".

Font, 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 Font surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Font in America

Font is the 14070th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Font surname appeared 2,138 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 Font.

We can also compare 2010 data for Font 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 14070 15805 -11.62%
Count 2,138 1,692 23.29%
Proportion per 100k 0.72 0.63 13.33%

The history of the last name Font

The surname FONT is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "font" meaning "spring" or "fountain." It is believed to have originated in the regions of northern France, particularly in Normandy, during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FONT can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "de la Font," indicating a connection to a specific location or landmark related to a spring or fountain.

In the 12th century, a notable individual named Raoul de Font is mentioned in the Chartulary of the Abbey of Saint-Wandrille in Normandy. This document, dated around 1150, records land transactions and donations made to the abbey.

During the 13th century, the name FONT appeared in various forms, including "de la Fonte," "de la Fount," and "de la Founte." These variations reflect the evolving spelling conventions of the time.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname in its modern spelling can be found in the records of the Hundred Rolls, a census-like survey conducted in England between 1274 and 1279. The entry "Johannes Font" is listed among the landowners in the county of Oxfordshire.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Guilhem Font was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Montpellier, France. He is mentioned in several historical documents from the period, including property deeds and municipal records.

During the Renaissance, a well-known artist named Jacques Font, born in 1543 in Avignon, France, gained recognition for his intricate engravings and etchings. His works often depicted religious scenes and were commissioned by various churches and patrons throughout Europe.

In the 17th century, a French military officer named Philippe Font, born in 1622, served under King Louis XIV and participated in several campaigns during the Franco-Spanish War. He is mentioned in historical accounts for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

The surname FONT has also been associated with notable individuals in more recent history, such as the French philosopher and writer Roger Font, born in 1886, who explored themes of existentialism and the human condition in his works.

Overall, the surname FONT has a rich historical lineage, originating from the Old French language and associated with locations or landmarks related to springs or fountains. It has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds, including landowners, merchants, artists, military officers, and philosophers, throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Font

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

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 Font was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 33.44% 715
Non-Hispanic Black Only 2.48% 53
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 1.03% 22
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.23% 5
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.65% 14
Hispanic Origin 62.16% 1,329

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 Font has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 33.44% 34.63% -3.50%
Black 2.48% 2.66% -7.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander 1.03% 1.54% -39.69%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.23% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.65% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 62.16% 59.93% 3.65%

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

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

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"Font last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/font-surname-popularity/.

"Font last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/font-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Font last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/font-surname-popularity/.

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