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

LaFave, 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 LaFave surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of LaFave in America

LaFave is the 8558th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The LaFave surname appeared 3,849 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 LaFave.

We can also compare 2010 data for LaFave 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 LaFave

The surname LAFAVE has its origins in France, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the French word "fève," meaning bean or broad bean. The name was likely initially given as a nickname to someone who cultivated or traded in beans.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the records of the province of Normandy, where it was spelled in various forms, such as Lafave, Lafève, and Lafave. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Jean Lafave, born in Rouen, Normandy, in 1587. He was a farmer and is mentioned in several local land records from the early 17th century.

In the late 17th century, the name began to appear in the records of the French colony of Acadia, which is now part of eastern Canada. This was likely due to the migration of French settlers from Normandy and other parts of France to the New World.

A notable figure with this surname was Pierre Lafave, born in Port-Royal, Acadia, in 1692. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the colony and played a role in the Acadian resistance against British rule during the French and Indian War.

During the Great Expulsion of the Acadians in 1755, many families with the LAFAVE surname were deported from Acadia and dispersed throughout the British colonies in North America. Some eventually settled in regions such as Louisiana, where the name would later become more prevalent.

Another significant individual was François Lafave, born in 1776 in Opelousas, Louisiana. He was a military officer who served in the War of 1812 and later became a prominent landowner and politician in the state.

In the 19th century, the name LAFAVE started to spread to other parts of the United States and Canada as families migrated westward. One notable figure from this period was Marie Lafave, born in 1845 in St. Boniface, Manitoba. She was a renowned Métis midwife and traditional healer who played a vital role in the community.

Throughout its history, the surname LAFAVE has maintained its French origins and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, from farmers and merchants to military officers and community leaders.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name LaFave

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

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

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

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