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

Foyer, 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 Foyer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Foyer in America

Foyer is the 117480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Foyer surname appeared 148 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 Foyer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Foyer 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 Foyer

The surname "FOYER" is believed to have originated in France, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "foyer," which means "hearth" or "fireplace." It is thought to have been a descriptive surname given to individuals who lived near a prominent hearth or worked as a stoker or caretaker of a fireplace.

The earliest known record of the name can be found in the French census records of 1587, where a family by the name of Foyer was listed as residing in the town of Champigny-sur-Marne, located in the Île-de-France region. This region, particularly the areas around Paris, is believed to be the birthplace of the surname.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various historical records, including parish registers and land deeds. One notable mention is in the archives of the city of Bordeaux, where a merchant named Jacques Foyer is recorded as having traded in wine and other goods in the year 1645.

As the centuries passed, the name spread to other regions of France, and by the 18th century, it had become more widely represented. In 1756, a military officer named Pierre Foyer (1712-1788) was born in Marseille and went on to serve in the French Army during the Seven Years' War.

Another notable figure bearing the surname was the French author and playwright Eugène Foyer (1819-1876), who was born in Paris and is best known for his works of satirical comedy, including the play "Les Bourgeois de Pont-Arcy."

During the 19th century, the name also gained prominence in the field of architecture. One of the most renowned individuals was Alphonse Foyer (1828-1901), a French architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Hôtel de la Monnaie (Paris Mint) and the Palais de l'Élysée (the official residence of the President of France).

Furthermore, the name Foyer appeared in various regions outside of France, likely due to migration and immigration. In the late 19th century, a Belgian artist named Henri Foyer (1867-1936) gained recognition for his impressionist paintings, particularly those depicting scenes of rural life in his native country.

While the surname "FOYER" may have originated as a descriptive name related to fireplaces and hearths, it has since evolved to encompass a rich history spanning various professions, from merchants and military officers to authors, architects, and artists, each contributing to the cultural tapestry of their respective regions and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Foyer

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

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

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

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