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

Legendre, 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 Legendre surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Legendre in America

Legendre is the 15687th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Legendre surname appeared 1,860 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 Legendre.

We can also compare 2010 data for Legendre 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 Legendre

The surname Legendre is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "legendre," which means "to beget" or "to engender." It first appeared in the northern regions of France, particularly in the provinces of Normandy and Picardy, during the medieval period.

The earliest recorded instance of the Legendre surname can be traced back to the 12th century, when it was mentioned in the cartularies of the Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres. These cartularies were a collection of historical documents and records related to the abbey, which played a significant role in preserving the name's origin and early usage.

During the 13th century, the name Legendre appeared in various legal documents and manuscripts, such as the "Rôles de l'Échiquier de Normandie," which were judicial records from the Norman Exchequer. This suggests that the Legendre family held a notable presence in the region during that time.

One of the earliest and most renowned individuals bearing the Legendre surname was Adrien-Marie Legendre (1752-1833), a prominent French mathematician and geometer. He made significant contributions to the fields of number theory, elliptic integrals, and celestial mechanics, and his work influenced the development of modern mathematics.

Another notable figure was François Legendre (1637-1703), a French Baroque painter and engraver known for his religious and mythological works. His paintings adorned churches and galleries across Europe, and his etchings were widely admired for their intricate details and technical mastery.

In the realm of literature, René Legendre (1646-1733) was a French dramatist and poet who wrote numerous plays and poems during the reign of Louis XIV. His works often explored themes of love, honor, and moral dilemmas, reflecting the societal norms and values of his time.

The Legendre surname also gained prominence in the field of law and politics. Joseph Legendre (1917-1998) was a French politician who served as a member of the European Parliament and played a significant role in shaping European policies and legislation.

Throughout history, the name Legendre has been associated with various places and regions across France. For instance, the commune of Légendre in the department of Orne is believed to have derived its name from the Legendre family, who may have held land or influence in the area during the medieval period.

While the Legendre surname has its roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and colonial expansion. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the northern regions of France, where it first emerged and flourished.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Legendre

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

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

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

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