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

Masson, 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 Masson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Masson in America

Masson is the 11236th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Masson surname appeared 2,813 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Masson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Masson 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 Masson

The surname MASSON has its origins in France, specifically in the northern regions of the country. It first appeared around the 12th century and is derived from the Old French word "masson," which means "mason" or "stone worker." This occupation-based surname was likely given to individuals who worked as stonemasons or in the building trade.

The earliest recorded instances of the name MASSON can be found in medieval French records and documents. One notable example is Guillaume MASSON, a stonemason who worked on the construction of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris during the late 12th century.

As the surname spread across France, it also took on various regional spellings, such as MASON, MAÇON, and MASSE. These variations reflect the local dialects and pronunciations of different areas.

In the 13th century, the name MASSON appears in the records of the Duchy of Burgundy, where it was associated with several families of builders and craftsmen. One prominent figure from this period was Jean MASSON, a master mason who oversaw the construction of the Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay in Burgundy.

The surname MASSON also has historical connections to the Reformation in France. François MASSON, a Protestant theologian and scholar born in 1572, played a significant role in translating and disseminating religious texts during the 16th century.

As the MASSON name spread beyond France, it was carried by immigrants and settlers to various parts of the world. In England, the MASSON surname can be traced back to the 16th century, with records indicating that some French Huguenot refugees bearing this name settled in the country.

One notable figure with the MASSON surname was Frédéric MASSON, a French historian and biographer born in 1847. He was renowned for his extensive works on the life and times of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Another prominent individual was David MASSON, a Scottish philosopher, essayist, and biographer born in 1822. He authored several acclaimed works, including a biography of John Milton and a history of the British novelists.

In the arts, the name MASSON is associated with André MASSON, a French painter and sculptor born in 1896. He was a prominent figure in the Surrealist movement and is known for his abstract and symbolic works.

The surname MASSON has also been carried by notable individuals in other fields, such as Charles MASSON, a British explorer and archaeologist born in 1800, who made significant contributions to the study of ancient civilizations in Afghanistan.

Throughout its history, the surname MASSON has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, from skilled artisans and builders to scholars, artists, and explorers. Its origins as an occupation-based name reflect the rich tapestry of professions and trades that have shaped societies across the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Masson

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

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

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

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