2000
#10,186
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,906
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.08
Rare Last name
Lafollette
From the French "la follette," meaning "the foolish" or "the mad," likely referring to an eccentric or impulsive person.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,230 Americans carry the last name Lafollette. That puts it at #10,812 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.94 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 106,116 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lafollette surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
3.2K
1 in 106,116
Census rank
#10,812
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,817 bearers of the surname Lafollette in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.94 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 10812th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lafollette, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.3%) and Hispanic (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lafollette
The surname LaFollette has its origins in France, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the French words "la" meaning "the" and "follette" meaning "little mad one" or "imp." This suggests that the name may have been originally used as a nickname for someone with a mischievous or playful personality.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the parish records of Normandy, where a certain Jean LaFollette was born in 1587. It is believed that the family may have originated from the region of Calvados, known for its apple orchards and cider production.
During the 17th century, the LaFollette family established itself in the northern regions of France, particularly in the provinces of Picardy and Champagne. Records from this period indicate that several members of the family were involved in the wine trade, which was a significant industry in the region.
In the late 18th century, a member of the LaFollette family, Jacques LaFollette (1752-1825), gained recognition as a skilled clockmaker and horologist. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the French nobility and even found their way into the court of King Louis XVI.
In the 19th century, the name LaFollette became more widespread as members of the family migrated to other parts of Europe and the Americas. One notable individual was Robert M. LaFollette (1855-1925), an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, Governor of Wisconsin, and United States Senator. He was a leading figure in the Progressive Movement and was known for his advocacy of political reforms and environmental conservation.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Suzanne LaFollette (1893-1983), a French journalist and author. She was a prominent figure in the French Resistance during World War II and wrote extensively about her experiences in her memoir, "Elles Étaient Simples et Vraies" (They Were Simple and True).
Other individuals with the surname LaFollette who have left their mark in various fields include:
1. George LaFollette (1868-1960), an American businessman and philanthropist, founder of the LaFollette Clinic in Madison, Wisconsin.
2. Philip LaFollette (1897-1965), an American author and journalist, known for his works on political and social issues.
3. Yvonne LaFollette (1921-2008), a French actress and singer, who appeared in numerous films and stage productions.
4. Pierre LaFollette (1939-2021), a French-American engineer and inventor, known for his contributions to the development of laser technology.
Despite its French origins, the surname LaFollette has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns and historical movements of different families bearing this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lafollette
Among Census respondents with the surname Lafollette, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.3%) and Hispanic (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Lafollette bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Lafollette surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.2% · 2,598
- Two or more races3.3% · 93
- Hispanic or Latino3.2% · 90
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 14
- Black or African American0.5% · 13
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3% · 9
Timeline
Historical Census data for Lafollette
Lafollette appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#10,866
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,932
+26 bearers (+0.9%)
Per 100,000 0.99
Rank movement Down 680 places
2020
#10,812
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,817
-115 bearers (-3.9%)
Per 100,000 0.94
Rank movement Up 54 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #10,186 | 2,906 | 1.08 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #10,866 | 2,932 | 0.99 | +26 bearers (+0.9%) | Down 680 places |
| 2020 | #10,812 | 2,817 | 0.94 | -115 bearers (-3.9%) | Up 54 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Lafollette surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,866 | #10,812 | 0.5% |
| Count | 2,932 | 2,817 | -3.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.99 | 0.94 | -4.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Lafollette bearers went from 2,932 to 2,817 (-3.9% change). The surname moved up 54 positions in the national ranking, going from #10,866 to #10,812.
FAQ
Lafollette surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Lafollette?
Name Census estimates that about 3,230 living Americans carry the surname Lafollette. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 106,116 residents.
How common is Lafollette?
Lafollette ranks #10,812 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.94 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,817 people with the surname Lafollette. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,230), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.94 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.94 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Lafollette.
Has Lafollette become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Lafollette went from 2,932 recorded bearers to 2,817. That is a decrease of 115 (-3.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #10,866 to #10,812.
What does the Census say about the background of Lafollette?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lafollette, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.3%) and Hispanic (3.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Lafollette in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.2% (2,598 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Lafollette appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.2%), Two or More Races (3.3%), Hispanic (3.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Lafollette (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Lafollette mean?
From the French "la follette," meaning "the foolish" or "the mad," likely referring to an eccentric or impulsive person. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Lafollette (0.94 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Lafollette?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.