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

Masquelier, 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 Masquelier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Masquelier in America

Masquelier is the 120901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Masquelier surname appeared 143 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 Masquelier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Masquelier 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 Masquelier

The surname Masquelier is of French origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated from the northern regions of France, particularly in the provinces of Picardy and Artois. The name is derived from the Old French word "masquelier," which referred to a maker or seller of masks.

During the medieval period, mask-making was a thriving craft, with masks being used for various purposes, including theatrical performances, religious ceremonies, and festivals. The name Masquelier likely emerged as a occupational surname, denoting individuals who were involved in this trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Masquelier can be found in the "Livre des métiers" (Book of Trades), a 13th-century document that documented the various professions and trades in Paris. This record provides valuable insight into the historical significance of the surname and its association with the mask-making industry.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Masquelier was Jean Masquelier, a renowned playwright and actor from Rouen, France (born around 1520 – died circa 1580). His works were highly regarded and contributed to the development of French theater during the Renaissance period.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Jacques Masquelier (1632-1687), a French lawyer and author from Paris. He was best known for his legal writings and his contributions to the field of jurisprudence.

The Masquelier family also had a presence in the French nobility. In the 18th century, François-Philippe Masquelier (1715-1783) was a French aristocrat and military officer who served as the Governor of Fort Bourbon (now Fort York) in present-day Ontario, Canada.

In the realm of art, Pierre Masquelier (1856-1924) was a French painter and engraver renowned for his landscape and genre scenes. He was a member of the prestigious Société des Artistes Français and exhibited his works at the renowned Paris Salon.

The name Masquelier has also been recorded in various historical documents and records throughout France, such as parish registers, census records, and local archives. While the name may have evolved slightly in spelling over time, its connection to the mask-making tradition and French heritage remains evident.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Masquelier

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

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

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

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