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

Fortunat, 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 Fortunat surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fortunat in America

Fortunat is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fortunat surname appeared 128 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 Fortunat.

The history of the last name Fortunat

The surname Fortunat has its origins in France, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "fortunatus," meaning "lucky" or "blessed." This name likely originated as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who was considered fortunate or prosperous.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fortunat can be found in the 13th century, in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres, a collection of medieval documents from the Abbey of Saint-Père in Chartres, France. This document mentions a person named Fortunatus de Montfaucon.

During the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname Fortunat was Fortunat Stromer, a German merchant and entrepreneur from Nuremberg, who lived from around 1335 to 1401. He was known for his successful trading ventures and his role in establishing the Stromer family as a prominent mercantile dynasty.

In the 15th century, the name Fortunat appeared in the records of the city of Lyon, France. One example is Jehan Fortunat, a merchant who lived around 1450. The name was also present in other regions of France, such as the town of Fortunat near Limoges, which likely took its name from an early bearer of the surname.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure with the surname Fortunat was Venantius Fortunatus, a Latin poet and bishop who lived from around 530 to 609 AD. He was renowned for his poetic works, particularly those honoring saints and religious figures.

Another notable bearer of the name Fortunat was Jean-Baptiste Fortunat, a French painter and engraver born in 1689 in Avignon. He was known for his religious and mythological paintings, as well as his etchings and engravings.

During the 17th century, the surname Fortunat was found in various regions of France, such as Normandy and Brittany. One example is Pierre Fortunat, a member of the Parisian bourgeoisie who lived around 1650 and was involved in commerce and trade.

The Fortunat surname has also been present in other European countries, such as Italy and Spain, where it likely evolved from the same Latin root. However, its origins and historical records are primarily concentrated in France.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fortunat

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

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 Fortunat 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.

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

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

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