Louise
A French surname derived from the given name Louise, meaning "renowned warrior".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 720 Americans carry the last name Louise. That puts it at #36,099 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.21 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 476,048 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Louise surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
720
1 in 476,048
Census rank
#36,099
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
621
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 621 bearers of the surname Louise in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 36099th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Louise, the largest self-reported group is White at 67.5%. The next largest groups are Black (20.8%) and Hispanic (6.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Louise
The surname Louise originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French and Germanic name Lodewijck, which means "famous warrior." The name was often spelled as Lowise or Louwijs in medieval records.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Louise can be found in the Cartulaire de Redon, a 9th-century cartulary from the Redon Abbey in Brittany. The document mentions a nobleman named Lowise who donated land to the abbey in 842 AD.
In the 11th century, the surname Louise appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book recorded several individuals with the surname, including a landowner named Lowise de Beaumont in Hampshire.
During the Middle Ages, the surname Louise was also associated with several notable figures. One of the earliest was Lowise of Lacy (1180-1241), an English noblewoman and the heiress of the Lacy family estates. Another prominent bearer of the name was Lowise de la Tour d'Auvergne (1312-1375), a French noblewoman who served as the Countess of Évreux.
In the 15th century, the surname Louise was adopted by several members of the French royal family. One of the most famous was Louise of Savoy (1476-1531), the mother of King Francis I of France. She played a significant role in the French Renaissance and was a patron of the arts and literature.
Another notable figure with the surname Louise was Louise de Coligny (1555-1620), a French noblewoman and the wife of William the Silent, the leader of the Dutch Revolt against Spain. She was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and played a crucial role in the struggle for Dutch independence.
Throughout history, the surname Louise has been associated with various place names and locations, including Louiseville in Quebec, Canada, and Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. The name has also been spelled in various ways, such as Louisa, Luise, and Luiza, reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Louise
Among Census respondents with the surname Louise, the largest self-reported group is White at 67.5%. The next largest groups are Black (20.8%) and Hispanic (6.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Louise bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Louise surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White67.5%
- Black or African American20.8%
- Hispanic or Latino6.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.4%
- Two or more races1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Louise surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #36,099 | #36,099 | 0.0% |
| Count | 621 | 621 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Louise bearers went from 621 to 621 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #36,099 to #36,099.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Louise
FAQ
Louise surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Louise?
The surname Louise holds position #36,099 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 720 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Louise surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Louise, the largest self-reported group is White at 67.5%. The next largest groups are Black (20.8%) and Hispanic (6.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.