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

LaFountain, 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 LaFountain surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of LaFountain in America

LaFountain is the 8990th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The LaFountain surname appeared 3,639 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 LaFountain.

We can also compare 2010 data for LaFountain 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 LaFountain

The surname LAFOUNTAIN has its origins in France, dating back to the late Middle Ages. It is a locational name, derived from the French phrase "la fontaine," meaning "the fountain" or "the spring." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name likely resided near a prominent fountain, spring, or other water source.

The name LAFOUNTAIN can be traced back to various regions of northern and central France, particularly in areas like Normandy, Picardy, and Île-de-France. It is believed to have emerged as a distinguishing moniker for individuals living in close proximity to natural water sources during the 12th and 13th centuries.

Historical records from the 14th and 15th centuries, such as tax rolls and parish registers, contain numerous variations of the spelling, including LaFontaine, La Fontaine, and Lafonteine. These early documents provide valuable insights into the geographic distribution and evolution of the name across different regions of France.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the 1292 Census of Paris, where a certain Jean de la Fontaine is listed as a resident of the city's Saint-Jacques parish. Another notable early bearer of the name was Pierre de la Fontaine, a 14th-century knight from Normandy who participated in the Hundred Years' War.

The name LAFOUNTAIN has also been associated with several prominent individuals throughout history. One of the most renowned figures is Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695), a celebrated French fabulist and poet whose works, such as "The Fables of La Fontaine," have become literary classics. Another notable bearer was François de La Fontaine (c. 1590-1653), a French traveler and explorer who visited parts of North America and documented his travels in a book published in 1648.

In the realm of art, Jacques de La Fontaine (1558-1615) was a renowned Flemish painter and engraver, known for his portraits and religious works. The name LAFOUNTAIN has also been carried by several notable scholars, including Claude de La Fontaine (1570-1638), a French philosopher and mathematician, and Jean de La Fontaine (1585-1652), a Jesuit scholar and author of religious texts.

While the name LAFOUNTAIN has its roots in France, it has since been carried by individuals across various parts of the world, particularly in regions with historical French influence or immigration. However, it remains a distinctive surname with a rich heritage and a strong connection to its origins in the fountains and springs of medieval France.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name LaFountain

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

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

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

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