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

Genest, 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 Genest surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Genest in America

Genest is the 22592nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Genest surname appeared 1,137 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 Genest.

We can also compare 2010 data for Genest 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 Genest

The surname Genest originates from France and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is a toponymic name derived from the Norman French word "genet," which means a small yellow-flowered shrub of the broom family. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a place where these shrubs grew in abundance.

Early records show variations in the spelling of the name, including Genest, Genet, Genette, and Geneste. One of the earliest documented references to the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Genet."

In the 12th century, a nobleman named Raoul Genest was mentioned in the cartulary of the Abbey of Fontenay in Normandy. Another notable bearer of the name was Guillaume Genest, a French poet and writer who lived in the 13th century and authored several works, including a collection of poems titled "Le Roman de la Rose."

During the 14th century, a family named Genest held lands in the village of Genest-Saint-Isle, located in the department of Mayenne, northwestern France. This place name likely originated from the surname itself, reinforcing the connection between the name and the broom shrub.

In the 16th century, a French philosopher and humanist named Jean Genest (1539-1591) gained recognition for his writings on ethics and morality. He was born in Angers and served as a professor of philosophy at the University of Paris.

Another notable figure with the surname Genest was Pierre Genest (1649-1719), a French Jesuit missionary who traveled to New France (now Canada) in the late 17th century. He worked among the indigenous populations, primarily the Huron and Iroquois tribes, and is known for his efforts in promoting education and converting people to Christianity.

Throughout the centuries, the Genest surname has been carried by various individuals across different fields, including literature, philosophy, religion, and exploration, leaving a lasting impact on the cultural and historical landscapes of France and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Genest

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

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

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

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