Goyer
A French surname derived from the Old French word "goiier", meaning a lookout or sentinel.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 925 Americans carry the last name Goyer. That puts it at #29,878 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.27 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 370,545 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Goyer surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
925
1 in 370,545
Census rank
#29,878
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
786
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 786 bearers of the surname Goyer in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.27 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 29878th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Goyer, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Black (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Goyer
The surname Goyer originated in France and traces its roots back to the medieval French language. It is derived from the Old French word "goierre," meaning "maker of goys," which were small drinking vessels or cups. The name likely referred to an occupation, indicating that the original bearer was a maker or seller of these vessels.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Goyer surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals bearing this name may have migrated from France to England during or shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
In the 13th century, records show a Jean Goyer living in the French province of Normandy. He is believed to be one of the earliest known individuals with this surname. Around the same time, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Goierre, Goiyer, and Goyeur, reflecting regional variations and changes in spelling conventions over time.
During the 16th century, several notable individuals bore the Goyer surname. One such person was Etienne Goyer, a French Protestant reformer and theologian who lived from 1520 to 1592. He played a significant role in the spread of Calvinism in France during the Protestant Reformation.
Another notable figure was Jean-Baptiste Goyer, a French explorer and fur trader who lived from 1670 to 1736. He was among the early European settlers in the region that would become the state of Illinois in the United States.
In the 18th century, Jacques Goyer, a French-Canadian farmer and landowner, was born in 1712 in Boucherville, Quebec. He is considered one of the ancestors of many individuals bearing the Goyer surname in North America today.
During the 19th century, François-Xavier Goyer, a Canadian politician and lawyer, made a name for himself. Born in 1824 in Quebec, he served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec and played an influential role in the political landscape of his time.
Lastly, in the 20th century, Denis Goyer, a French-Canadian writer and poet, gained recognition for his literary works. Born in 1919 in Montreal, he was known for his unique poetic style and contributions to the French-Canadian literary scene.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Goyer
Among Census respondents with the surname Goyer, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Black (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Goyer bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Goyer surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- Black or African American2.5%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Goyer surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #28,522 | #29,878 | -4.8% |
| Count | 787 | 786 | -0.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.29 | 0.27 | -6.9% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Goyer bearers went from 787 to 786 (-0.1% change). The surname moved down 1,356 positions in the national ranking, going from #28,522 to #29,878.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Goyer
FAQ
Goyer surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Goyer?
The surname Goyer holds position #29,878 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 925 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.27 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Goyer surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Goyer, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Black (2.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.