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

Lenoir, 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 Lenoir surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lenoir in America

Lenoir is the 9222nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lenoir surname appeared 3,534 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 Lenoir.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lenoir 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 Lenoir

The surname LENOIR originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French words "le" meaning "the" and "noir" meaning "black." This combination suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone with dark features or clothing.

The earliest recorded instances of the name LENOIR can be found in various medieval records from the 12th and 13th centuries. One notable example is Raoul le Noir, a French knight who lived during the late 12th century and participated in the Third Crusade.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Hundred Years' War records, with several individuals named LENOIR serving as soldiers or advisors to French kings. One such person was Jean LENOIR, a military commander who fought alongside Joan of Arc during the Siege of Orléans in 1429.

The surname LENOIR has also been linked to various place names across France, such as the village of Lenoir in the Normandy region. This suggests that some families may have adopted the name due to their association with these locations.

Over the centuries, the LENOIR surname has had several spelling variations, including Le Noir, Lenoir, and Lenoare. These variations often reflect regional differences in pronunciation and record-keeping practices.

Notable individuals with the LENOIR surname include:

1. André LENOIR (1742-1825), a French archaeologist and administrator who played a significant role in preserving historical monuments during the French Revolution.
2. Étienne LENOIR (1822-1900), a Belgian-French engineer and inventor who is credited with developing one of the first successful internal combustion engines.
3. Paul LENOIR (1856-1933), a French politician who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies and as Minister of the Interior.
4. Élie LENOIR (1879-1952), a French sculptor known for his work in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles.
5. Pierre LENOIR (1925-2019), a French actor and filmmaker who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career.

The LENOIR surname has a rich history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in French culture and language. While its origins may be humble, the name has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, from politics and art to engineering and invention.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lenoir

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

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

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

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