Jolet last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Jolet

A surname derived from the French word "joli" meaning pretty or handsome.

Jolet, 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 Jolet surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jolet in America

Jolet is the 103181st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jolet surname appeared 174 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 Jolet.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jolet 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank103181108734-5.24%
Count17415114.15%
Proportion per 100k0.060.060.00%

The history of the last name Jolet

The surname JOLET has its origins in France, dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "joliet," which referred to a small or delicate person. The name was initially found in the northern regions of France, particularly in the areas around Paris and Normandy.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the JOLET surname can be found in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Sainte-Trinité de Caen, a medieval manuscript from the 12th century. This document lists several individuals with the name JOLET, indicating its presence in Normandy during that time.

In the 13th century, the name JOLET appeared in various records, including the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Victor de Marseille, suggesting its spread to other parts of France. The surname was also associated with certain place names, such as Joliet-sur-Seine, a small village in the Aube department of northeastern France.

One notable individual bearing the JOLET surname was Jean JOLET, a French explorer and fur trader who lived from 1645 to 1700. He played a significant role in the exploration of the Great Lakes region and the establishment of trade routes in what is now the midwestern United States.

Another prominent figure was Louis JOLET (1742-1823), a French politician and lawyer who served as a deputy in the National Convention during the French Revolution. He was known for his involvement in drafting laws related to civil rights and the abolition of feudalism.

In the 19th century, the JOLET surname gained recognition through the works of the French author and playwright Émile JOLET (1809-1871). His literary contributions included several plays and novels that explored themes of social commentary and human relationships.

The name JOLET also had a presence in other parts of Europe, as evidenced by the Dutch painter Jan JOLET (1635-1697). He was known for his landscape paintings and scenes depicting everyday life in the Netherlands.

Lastly, one cannot ignore the impact of Étienne JOLET (1892-1968), a French architect and urban planner. He was instrumental in the reconstruction efforts following World War II, particularly in the city of Le Havre, where he designed numerous buildings and public spaces.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals bearing the JOLET surname, which has left an indelible mark across various fields, including exploration, politics, literature, art, and architecture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jolet

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

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 Jolet was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only79.31%138
Non-Hispanic Black Only0.00%0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only10.92%19
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races0.00%0
Hispanic Origin9.77%17

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 Jolet has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

20102000Change (%)
White79.31%90.07%-12.71%
Black0.00%(S)%(S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander10.92%(S)%(S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0.00%0.00%
Two or More Races0.00%0.00%0.00%
Hispanic9.77%5.96%48.44%

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

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

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