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

Lavalais, 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 Lavalais surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lavalais in America

Lavalais is the 40204th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lavalais surname appeared 545 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Lavalais.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lavalais 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 Lavalais

The surname LAVALAIS originated in France, specifically in the region of Normandy. It likely emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century. The name is derived from the Old French words "la val" meaning "the valley" and "lais" meaning "forest." Together, the name LAVALAIS roughly translates to "the one from the valley forest."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LAVALAIS can be found in a cartulary, a medieval manuscript that recorded the landholdings and transactions of a monastery or noble family. This particular cartulary, dated to the late 12th century, mentions a certain Robertus de Lavalais who was a landowner in the region.

The LAVALAIS surname is also connected to a specific place name, the village of Lavalais located in the Normandy region of France. This village likely took its name from the same linguistic roots as the surname, referring to its location in a forested valley. It's possible that the earliest bearers of the LAVALAIS surname were either residents of this village or held lands in the surrounding area.

One notable individual with the LAVALAIS surname was Jean de Lavalais, a Norman nobleman who lived in the late 14th century. He was a prominent figure during the Hundred Years' War between England and France, serving as a captain in the French army.

Another historical figure bearing the LAVALAIS name was Marie-Anne de Lavalais, born in 1675. She was a French noblewoman and landowner, known for her extensive estates and philanthropic efforts in the region of Normandy.

In the 16th century, a branch of the LAVALAIS family migrated to the Netherlands, where they adopted the spelling variation "Van Lavalais." One member of this branch, Pieter Van Lavalais (1520-1588), was a renowned Dutch merchant and trader, playing a significant role in the Dutch East Indies trade.

Moving to the 17th century, we find Charles de Lavalais (1632-1701), a French Jesuit priest and missionary who traveled to Canada and worked among the indigenous populations. He is remembered for his efforts in establishing missions and promoting education in the French colonies of North America.

Throughout its history, the LAVALAIS surname has maintained its connection to the Normandy region of France, where it first emerged. While variations in spelling have occurred over time, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained tied to the concept of a forested valley, reflecting the geographical roots of this distinctive surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lavalais

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

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

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

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