2000
#15,805
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,692
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.63
Rare Last name
Font
A topographic name for someone who lived near a spring or well, from Old English "funta".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,297 Americans carry the last name Font. That puts it at #14,366 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.67 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 149,218 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Font surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.3K
1 in 149,218
Census rank
#14,366
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,003 bearers of the surname Font in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.67 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14366th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Font, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 69.2%. The next largest groups are White (26.2%) and Black (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Font
Among Census respondents with the surname Font, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 69.2%. The next largest groups are White (26.2%) and Black (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Font bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Font surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino69.2% · 1,386
- White26.2% · 525
- Black or African American2.5% · 51
- Two or more races1.1% · 22
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 14
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Font
Font appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#14,070
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,138
+446 bearers (+26.4%)
Per 100,000 0.72
Rank movement Up 1,735 places
2020
#14,366
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,003
-135 bearers (-6.3%)
Per 100,000 0.67
Rank movement Down 296 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #15,805 | 1,692 | 0.63 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #14,070 | 2,138 | 0.72 | +446 bearers (+26.4%) | Up 1,735 places |
| 2020 | #14,366 | 2,003 | 0.67 | -135 bearers (-6.3%) | Down 296 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Font surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,070 | #14,366 | -2.1% |
| Count | 2,138 | 2,003 | -6.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.72 | 0.67 | -6.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Font bearers went from 2,138 to 2,003 (-6.3% change). The surname moved down 296 positions in the national ranking, going from #14,070 to #14,366.
FAQ
Font surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Font?
Name Census estimates that about 2,297 living Americans carry the surname Font. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 149,218 residents.
How common is Font?
Font ranks #14,366 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.67 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,003 people with the surname Font. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,297), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.67 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.67 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Font.
Has Font become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Font went from 2,138 recorded bearers to 2,003. That is a decrease of 135 (-6.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #14,070 to #14,366.
What does the Census say about the background of Font?
Among Census respondents with the surname Font, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 69.2%. The next largest groups are White (26.2%) and Black (2.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Font in the 2020 Census, accounting for 69.2% (1,386 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Font appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (69.2%), White (26.2%), Black (2.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Font (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Font mean?
A topographic name for someone who lived near a spring or well, from Old English "funta". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Font (0.67 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Font?
If you just want to know how many people are called Font, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.