2000
#2,778
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 11,936
First available Census row
Per 100,000 4.42
Uncommon Last name
France
A locational surname indicating an individual's origin or residence in the country of France.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 13,007 Americans carry the last name France. That puts it at #3,093 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.79 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 26,352 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the France 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for France with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
13K
1 in 26,352
Census rank
#3,093
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
11K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 11,343 bearers of the surname France in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.79 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3093rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname France, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.3%. The next largest groups are Black (18.3%) and Two or More Races (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for France
Among Census respondents with the surname France, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.3%. The next largest groups are Black (18.3%) and Two or More Races (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how France 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 France surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White72.3% · 8,200
- Black or African American18.3% · 2,071
- Two or more races4.5% · 513
- Hispanic or Latino3.6% · 406
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 102
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 51
Timeline
Historical Census data for France
France 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
#3,005
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 11,937
+1 bearers (+0.0%)
Per 100,000 4.05
Rank movement Down 227 places
2020
#3,093
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 11,343
-594 bearers (-5.0%)
Per 100,000 3.79
Rank movement Down 88 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #2,778 | 11,936 | 4.42 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #3,005 | 11,937 | 4.05 | +1 bearers (+0.0%) | Down 227 places |
| 2020 | #3,093 | 11,343 | 3.79 | -594 bearers (-5.0%) | Down 88 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 France 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 | #3,005 | #3,093 | -2.9% |
| Count | 11,937 | 11,343 | -5.0% |
| Per 100K | 4.05 | 3.79 | -6.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of France bearers went from 11,937 to 11,343 (-5.0% change). The surname moved down 88 positions in the national ranking, going from #3,005 to #3,093.
FAQ
France surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname France?
Name Census estimates that about 13,007 living Americans carry the surname France. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 26,352 residents.
How common is France?
France ranks #3,093 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 3.79 per 100,000 residents, which is about 4 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 11,343 people with the surname France. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (13,007), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 3.79 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 3.79 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 4 of them to have the surname France.
Has France become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname France went from 11,937 recorded bearers to 11,343. That is a decrease of 594 (-5.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #3,005 to #3,093.
What does the Census say about the background of France?
Among Census respondents with the surname France, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.3%. The next largest groups are Black (18.3%) and Two or More Races (4.5%). 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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname France in the 2020 Census, accounting for 72.3% (8,200 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
France appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (72.3%), Black (18.3%), Two or More Races (4.5%). 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 France (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 France mean?
A locational surname indicating an individual's origin or residence in the country of France. 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 France (3.79 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 are called France?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the last name France on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.