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

Genie, 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 Genie surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Genie in America

Genie is the 144908th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Genie surname appeared 105 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Genie.

The history of the last name Genie

The surname Genie finds its origins in medieval France, specifically during the 13th and 14th centuries. The name is derived from the Old French word "genie," which refers to a guardian spirit or a supernatural being, likely rooted in the Latin word "genius," meaning a personal guiding spirit. This word was commonly used in medieval and Renaissance literature to characterize protective or guiding entities, which influenced the surname.

In its earliest history, the surname Genie was often associated with the region of Provence in southeastern France. This area, known for its rich cultural heritage and historical significance, was home to various noble families and influential figures. The association with guardian spirits or supernatural beings was not uncommon in this region, as the medieval society often blended folklore and reality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Genie appears in a 14th-century manuscript from Avignon, a city in the Provence region. The document lists a Pierre Genie as a landowner and merchant, indicating that the name was already established by this time. Additional references to the surname appear in the archives of the city of Aix-en-Provence, where a family bearing the name was involved in local governance in the late 15th century.

The name saw various spellings over the centuries, including variants such as Geny, Genis, and Genisè, reflecting the evolving orthography of the French language. In the 16th century, the historian Louis de Genie (1537-1591) documented the rich history of Provence, providing valuable insights into the societal structure and the prominence of families bearing the Genie surname.

Another significant figure bearing the name was Antoine Genie, born in 1672 in Marseille. Antoine was an influential merchant and played a pivotal role in establishing trade routes between France and the Mediterranean countries. His contributions to Marseille's economy are well documented in the city’s trade records from the early 18th century.

Moving into the 19th century, Jean-Baptiste Genie (1825-1901) emerged as a notable political figure in southern France. Known for his advocacy for agricultural reforms, Jean-Baptiste contributed to numerous legislative changes that benefited rural farmers in the Provence region. His impact on local governance is memorialized in several publications from the period.

By the 20th century, the Genie surname had spread beyond the confines of Provence, appearing in various parts of France and even in neighboring countries due to migration and the expansion of trade. One notable figure from this era is Marie-Louise Genie (1903-1978), a prominent artist known for her contributions to the Surrealist movement. Her work remains influential in art history circles, and she exhibited in well-known galleries in Paris and across Europe.

The surname Genie, with its rich etymological roots and historical presence in Provence, continues to be a fascinating study of how cultural and linguistic elements shape family names over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Genie

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Genie 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 Genie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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