Lafontant
A French surname derived from the terms "la" (the) and "fontaine" (fountain or spring).
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,028 Americans carry the last name Lafontant. That puts it at #27,303 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.30 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 333,419 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lafontant 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
1.0K
1 in 333,419
Census rank
#27,303
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
885
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 885 bearers of the surname Lafontant in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.30 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 27303rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lafontant, the largest self-reported group is Black at 87.7%. The next largest groups are White (4.5%) and Hispanic (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lafontant
The surname LAFONTANT is of French origin, with roots tracing back to the 17th century. It is derived from the Old French words "la" meaning "the" and "fontaine" meaning "fountain" or "spring." This name likely originated in an area of France where there was a prominent fountain or natural spring, and early bearers of the name may have lived near or been associated with such a location.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the LAFONTANT name can be found in the parish records of the Normandy region of France, dating back to the late 1600s. These records often include variations in spelling, such as LAFONTAINE or LAFONTANE, reflecting the evolution of the name over time.
The LAFONTANT surname has a rich history, with notable individuals bearing this name throughout the centuries. One such figure was Jean-Baptiste Lafontant, a French military officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. He was born in 1775 and died in 1815, having fought in several major campaigns alongside Napoleon's forces.
Another notable bearer of the LAFONTANT name was Marie-Rose Lafontant, a Haitian writer and activist who played a significant role in the country's literary and political movements in the early 20th century. She was born in 1890 and her works often explored themes of social justice and women's rights.
In the late 19th century, a wealthy French businessman named Pierre Lafontant made a name for himself in the textile industry. He established several successful factories in the city of Lyon, known for its silk production, and his descendants continued to carry on the family name and business ventures.
The LAFONTANT surname has also been associated with various place names throughout France, such as the village of Lafontant in the Auvergne region, which likely derived its name from the presence of a local fountain or spring.
It is worth noting that while the LAFONTANT surname has French origins, it has also been adopted and carried on by families in other parts of the world, particularly in former French colonies and territories where French influence was present.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lafontant
Among Census respondents with the surname Lafontant, the largest self-reported group is Black at 87.7%. The next largest groups are White (4.5%) and Hispanic (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Lafontant 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 Lafontant surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American87.7%
- White4.5%
- Hispanic or Latino4.5%
- Two or more races2.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Lafontant 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 | #31,530 | #27,303 | 13.4% |
| Count | 694 | 885 | 27.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.26 | 0.30 | 15.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Lafontant bearers went from 694 to 885 (+27.5% change). The surname moved up 4,227 positions in the national ranking, going from #31,530 to #27,303.
FAQ
Lafontant surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lafontant?
The surname Lafontant holds position #27,303 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,028 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.30 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lafontant surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lafontant, the largest self-reported group is Black at 87.7%. The next largest groups are White (4.5%) and Hispanic (4.5%). 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.