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

Innocent, 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 Innocent surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Innocent in America

Innocent is the 17432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Innocent surname appeared 1,618 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Innocent.

We can also compare 2010 data for Innocent 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 Innocent

The surname Innocent is of French origin, derived from the Old French personal name "Innocent" or "Innocens." This name was originally a nickname given to someone perceived as being pure, virtuous, or simple-minded.

Historically, the name Innocent can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of France, particularly in the northern and central areas. It was often used as a descriptive surname, reflecting the perceived character or demeanor of the original bearer.

In medieval records, such as the "Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres" from the 13th century, instances of the surname Innocent can be found, indicating its early usage in the region of Chartres, France.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname was Jehan Innocent, a French poet and chronicler born around 1280 in Paris. He is known for his work "Le Roman de la Rose," which was a significant literary work of the time.

Another notable figure was Pierre Innocent, a French theologian and educator who lived in the 15th century (c. 1430-1499). He served as the rector of the University of Paris and was known for his contributions to the field of theology.

In England, the surname Innocent was introduced by French immigrants and can be found in records dating back to the 16th century. One such individual was John Innocent, a merchant and alderman of the City of London, who lived during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (c. 1550-1620).

The variant spelling "Innocente" was also used, particularly in Italy. Vincenzo Innocente (1508-1590) was an Italian painter from the Venetian school, known for his religious works and portraits.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Charles Innocent, a French architect and engineer who lived in the 17th century (c. 1640-1703). He was involved in the construction of several notable buildings in Paris, including the Hôtel des Invalides.

While the surname Innocent has its roots in France, it has since spread and been adopted in various parts of the world, including other European countries, the Americas, and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Innocent

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

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

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

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