Laure
A surname possibly derived from the French feminine given name of the same spelling.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Laure. That puts it at #113,155 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Laure 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
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#113,155
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
155
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 155 bearers of the surname Laure in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 113155th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Laure, the largest self-reported group is White at 69.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (14.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (8.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Laure
The surname Laure originated in France during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "laurus," which means laurel or bay tree. The laurel tree held significant symbolism in ancient times, representing victory, honor, and academic achievement.
The earliest recorded instances of the Laure surname date back to the 13th century in the regions of Provence and Languedoc in southern France. These areas were known for their rich cultural heritage and were home to many prominent families bearing the Laure name.
One of the earliest known bearers of the Laure surname was Peire de Laure, a troubadour and poet from Provence who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. His works, which celebrated courtly love and chivalry, have been preserved and studied by scholars of medieval literature.
In the 14th century, the Laure name gained prominence through the life and writings of the Italian poet Francesco Petrarca, known as Petrarch. His famous collection of poems, "Il Canzoniere," was inspired by his unrequited love for a woman named Laura de Noves, whose family hailed from the town of Noves in Provence.
Another notable figure associated with the Laure surname was Jean-Paul de Laure, a French philosopher and writer who lived in the 18th century (1722-1807). He was a member of the prestigious Académie Française and authored several works on ethics, politics, and literature.
In the realm of art, the Laure surname is connected to the French painter Maurice Quentin de La Tour (1704-1788), renowned for his exquisite pastel portraits. Although his surname was spelled differently, it shared a similar root with the Laure name.
During the 19th century, the Laure family produced several influential figures in various fields. Émile Benjamin Laure (1804-1863) was a French lawyer and politician who served as a deputy in the National Assembly. His contemporary, Jules Laure (1812-1896), was a distinguished architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Paris.
Throughout its history, the Laure surname has maintained a strong presence in France, particularly in the southern regions. While it may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, its connection to the laurel tree and its symbolic associations with honor and achievement has endured.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Laure
Among Census respondents with the surname Laure, the largest self-reported group is White at 69.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (14.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (8.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Laure 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 Laure surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White69.7%
- Hispanic or Latino14.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander8.4%
- Two or more races3.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Laure 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #113,155 | #113,155 | 0.0% |
| Count | 155 | 155 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Laure bearers went from 155 to 155 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #113,155 to #113,155.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Laure
FAQ
Laure surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Laure?
The surname Laure holds position #113,155 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Laure surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Laure, the largest self-reported group is White at 69.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (14.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (8.4%). 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.