2000
#6,757
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,597
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.70
Rare Last name
Letourneau
A French occupational surname referring to a person who made or sold crossbows or bolts.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,305 Americans carry the last name Letourneau. That puts it at #7,000 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.55 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 64,610 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Letourneau surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
5.3K
1 in 64,610
Census rank
#7,000
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,626 bearers of the surname Letourneau in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.55 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7000th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Letourneau, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Two or More Races (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Letourneau
The surname LETOURNEAU originates from France, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French words "le" meaning "the" and "tourneau" meaning "potter's wheel," indicating an occupational surname associated with pottery-making.
During the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from a person's occupation, location, or physical characteristics. The name LETOURNEAU likely referred to an individual who worked as a potter or operated a potter's wheel.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a document from the region of Normandy in 1185, where it was spelled "Le Tourneau." This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during that period.
In the 13th century, a notable figure named Pierre LETOURNEAU was mentioned in a manuscript from the city of Rouen, where he was described as a skilled potter. His work was highly regarded, and he is believed to have contributed to the region's thriving pottery trade.
The surname LETOURNEAU gained prominence in the 16th century, with Jacques LETOURNEAU (1525-1598), a prominent merchant and landowner from the village of Bernay. He was known for his successful business ventures and his philanthropic efforts in supporting local churches and schools.
Another influential LETOURNEAU was Marie LETOURNEAU (1612-1678), a renowned author and poet from Paris. She was celebrated for her poetic works, which often explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality. Her literary contributions earned her recognition among the intellectual circles of her time.
In the 18th century, the name LETOURNEAU was associated with the French Revolution. Jean-Baptiste LETOURNEAU (1745-1805) was a prominent revolutionary figure who served as a member of the National Convention and played a role in the abolition of slavery in the French colonies.
Throughout history, the LETOURNEAU surname has been found in various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and the Paris region. It has also been carried by individuals who migrated to other parts of the world, contributing to the surname's global presence.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Letourneau
Among Census respondents with the surname Letourneau, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Two or More Races (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Letourneau bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Letourneau surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.8% · 4,291
- Hispanic or Latino3.0% · 139
- Two or more races2.8% · 131
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 29
- Black or African American0.6% · 27
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 9
Timeline
Historical Census data for Letourneau
Letourneau appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#6,961
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,818
+221 bearers (+4.8%)
Per 100,000 1.63
Rank movement Down 204 places
2020
#7,000
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,626
-192 bearers (-4.0%)
Per 100,000 1.55
Rank movement Down 39 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #6,757 | 4,597 | 1.70 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #6,961 | 4,818 | 1.63 | +221 bearers (+4.8%) | Down 204 places |
| 2020 | #7,000 | 4,626 | 1.55 | -192 bearers (-4.0%) | Down 39 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Letourneau surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,961 | #7,000 | -0.6% |
| Count | 4,818 | 4,626 | -4.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.63 | 1.55 | -5.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Letourneau bearers went from 4,818 to 4,626 (-4.0% change). The surname moved down 39 positions in the national ranking, going from #6,961 to #7,000.
FAQ
Letourneau surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Letourneau?
Name Census estimates that about 5,305 living Americans carry the surname Letourneau. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 64,610 residents.
How common is Letourneau?
Letourneau ranks #7,000 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.55 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 4,626 people with the surname Letourneau. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (5,305), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.55 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.55 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Letourneau.
Has Letourneau become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Letourneau went from 4,818 recorded bearers to 4,626. That is a decrease of 192 (-4.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #6,961 to #7,000.
What does the Census say about the background of Letourneau?
Among Census respondents with the surname Letourneau, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Two or More Races (2.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Letourneau in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.8% (4,291 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Letourneau appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.8%), Hispanic (3.0%), Two or More Races (2.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Letourneau (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Letourneau mean?
A French occupational surname referring to a person who made or sold crossbows or bolts. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Letourneau (1.55 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Letourneau?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.