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

Lenore, 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 Lenore surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lenore in America

Lenore is the 91221st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lenore surname appeared 202 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 Lenore.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lenore 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 Lenore

The surname "LENORE" is of French origin, derived from the Germanic personal name "Lienor" or "Lienora". The name itself is composed of the Germanic elements "lien" (meaning "lion") and "hard" (meaning "brave" or "hardy"). This combination suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone with a brave or lion-like personality.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of France, particularly in the northern and central areas. It is believed that the name may have been introduced to France during the Frankish invasions of the 5th and 6th centuries, when Germanic tribes settled in the region.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Jeanne Lenore, a French noblewoman who lived in the 13th century. She is mentioned in several historical records from the time, including a land deed dated 1247. Another notable figure was Philippe Lenore, a French soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century.

In the 15th century, the name appears in several manuscripts and documents from the region of Normandy, suggesting that it had become more widespread in that area. One such document is a census record from the town of Caen, which lists several families with the surname Lenore.

The name also has ties to various place names in France, such as the village of Lenore in the department of Eure-et-Loir. This village likely derived its name from an early settler or landowner with the surname.

Over the centuries, the spelling of the name has evolved, with variations such as Lenoir, Lenoire, and Lenoyre appearing in historical records. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include:

1. Jean-Baptiste Lenore (1629-1693), a French sculptor and architect known for his work on the Palace of Versailles.
2. Marie-Anne Lenore (1768-1845), a French painter and engraver who was a member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture.
3. Louis Lenore (1812-1889), a French engineer and inventor who developed an early version of the internal combustion engine.
4. Émilie Lenore (1856-1941), a French feminist and writer who advocated for women's rights and education.
5. Henri Lenore (1879-1952), a French composer and music critic who was a prominent figure in the Parisian cultural scene of the early 20th century.

While the surname has its roots in France, it has since spread to various parts of the world through emigration and cultural diffusion. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the French heritage and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lenore

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

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

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

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