Louisville
From a place name, referring to Louisville, Kentucky.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Louisville. That puts it at #149,395 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Louisville 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
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#149,395
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
110
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 110 bearers of the surname Louisville in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 149395th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Louisville, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.5%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Louisville
The surname "Louisville" is an English locational surname derived from the city of Louisville, Kentucky in the United States. The name "Louisville" itself is believed to have originated from the French phrase "la ville" meaning "the city" or "the town". This was likely a reference to the settlement that was established in 1778 near the Falls of the Ohio River.
The city of Louisville was named after King Louis XVI of France in honor of the French assistance during the American Revolutionary War. The name "Louisville" first appeared in historical records in 1780 when the Virginia legislature approved the town charter and officially established the city.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "Louisville" was William Louisville, a merchant and landowner who lived in Kentucky in the early 19th century. He was born in 1785 and is mentioned in several land records from the 1820s and 1830s.
Another notable figure with this surname was Elizabeth Louisville, a philanthropist and social activist who lived in Louisville, Kentucky in the late 19th century. She was born in 1842 and was known for her work in establishing orphanages and advocating for women's rights.
In the early 20th century, John Louisville, a political leader and lawyer, served as the mayor of Louisville from 1908 to 1912. He was born in 1865 and played a significant role in the city's development during his tenure as mayor.
The surname "Louisville" also appeared in literary works, such as the novel "The Louisville Cavalier" by James Fairfax McLaughlin, published in 1908. The book features a character named Charles Louisville, who was a Confederate soldier during the American Civil War.
Another individual with this surname was Mary Louisville, an artist and painter who lived in Louisville, Kentucky in the mid-20th century. She was born in 1920 and was known for her landscapes and portraits depicting life in the city.
While the surname "Louisville" is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history and connections to the city of Louisville, Kentucky, which was named after the French king and played a significant role in the development of the United States.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Louisville
Among Census respondents with the surname Louisville, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.5%.
The bar chart below shows how Louisville 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 Louisville surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American95.5%
- Unknown or suppressed4.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Louisville 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #148,244 | #149,395 | -0.8% |
| Count | 102 | 110 | 7.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Louisville bearers went from 102 to 110 (+7.8% change). The surname moved down 1,151 positions in the national ranking, going from #148,244 to #149,395.
FAQ
Louisville surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Louisville?
The surname Louisville holds position #149,395 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Louisville surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Louisville, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.5%. 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.