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

Fonts, 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 Fonts surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fonts in America

Fonts is the 128249th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fonts surname appeared 133 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 Fonts.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fonts 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 Fonts

The surname "FONTS" is believed to have originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "font," which referred to a spring or fountain. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a notable spring or fountain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed a Walter de la Fonte in Cambridgeshire, England. It's possible that this Walter was of French ancestry and that the name had already been anglicized by that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "de la Fonte," "de Fonte," and "Fonte." These variations likely reflected regional spellings and accents. The name was also found in other areas of England, such as Yorkshire, where a John de Fonte was recorded in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379.

A notable bearer of the name was Jean de la Fonte, a French explorer and navigator who lived in the late 16th century. He is best known for his voyages to the Arctic regions and his search for the Northwest Passage.

In the 17th century, the name began to be spelled more consistently as "Fonts." One example is William Fonts, an English clergyman who was born in 1620 and served as the rector of Horkstow in Lincolnshire.

Another notable individual with this surname was Jacques Fonts, a French painter who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was known for his portraits and religious works, and his paintings can be found in various churches and museums in France.

During the 18th century, the name "Fonts" appeared in various parts of Europe, including Germany, where Johann Fonts, a composer and organist, was born in 1756. He is known for his contributions to church music and his work as a music teacher.

As the name spread across Europe, it also found its way to other parts of the world, including North America. One example is James Fonts, an American soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War and was born in 1755.

Throughout history, the surname "Fonts" has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, clergymen, explorers, and soldiers. While its origins can be traced back to France, the name has since spread across the globe, reflecting the diversity and richness of human migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fonts

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

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

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

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