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

France, 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 France surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of France in America

France is the 3005th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The France surname appeared 11,937 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname France.

We can also compare 2010 data for France 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 France

The surname France has its origins in the country of France, with the earliest recorded examples dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "franc," which meant "free" or "frank," referring to someone who was not a serf or bondsman. The name was often given to those who were granted their freedom or to denote their free status.

During the Middle Ages, the name France appeared in various records and documents across Europe. One notable mention is in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1176, where a person named William France is listed as a landowner. Additionally, the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, which recorded the names of landholders in the region.

In the 13th century, the surname France was also associated with geographical locations. For instance, there are records of individuals named de France or de la France, indicating their origins from the country of France or specific regions within it. These place names were often anglicized or adapted over time, leading to variations in spelling, such as Fraunce or Frawnce.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname France was Sir Thomas France (c. 1350-1420), who served as a knight and fought in the Hundred Years' War. Another notable figure was John France (c. 1490-1558), a Protestant reformer and theologian who played a significant role in the English Reformation.

In the 16th century, the name France gained prominence with Sir Philip France (c. 1555-1624), an English politician and Member of Parliament. He served as the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire and was knighted by King James I in 1603.

Moving into the 17th century, Sir Thomas France (1622-1681) was a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. He was known for his legal expertise and contributions to the development of English common law.

Another noteworthy individual was Robert France (1735-1809), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars. He rose through the ranks to become an Admiral of the Blue and was highly respected for his leadership and bravery.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname France who have left their mark on history. The name's origins can be traced back to the 12th century and its association with the country of France, reflecting the rich tapestry of cultural and historical influences that have shaped this surname over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name France

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

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

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

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