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

Modeste, 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 Modeste surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Modeste in America

Modeste is the 28587th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Modeste surname appeared 834 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 Modeste.

We can also compare 2010 data for Modeste 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 Modeste

The surname MODESTE has its origins in France, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the French word "modeste," meaning modest or humble, which in turn comes from the Latin word "modestus."

The name was initially used as a descriptive surname, given to individuals who exhibited modest or humble behavior or demeanor. It was particularly common in the northern regions of France, particularly in the provinces of Normandy and Picardy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MODESTE surname can be found in the parish records of Rouen, Normandy, in the year 1589, where a certain Jean MODESTE is mentioned. Another early reference is found in the records of the town of Amiens, Picardy, where a Nicolas MODESTE is listed in the year 1612.

Over the centuries, the MODESTE surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest was Pierre MODESTE (1608-1692), a French Jesuit priest and scholar who was renowned for his expertise in classical literature and philosophy.

In the 18th century, Jacques MODESTE (1722-1793) was a prominent French architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Church of Saint-Sulpice and the Panthéon.

During the French Revolution, Jean-Baptiste MODESTE (1759-1794) was a revolutionary leader who played a significant role in the events of the Reign of Terror. He was eventually guillotined for his involvement in the Jacobin regime.

In the 19th century, Marie MODESTE (1826-1908) was a French novelist and playwright who gained recognition for her works exploring the lives and struggles of women in French society.

Another notable bearer of the MODESTE surname was André MODESTE (1887-1963), a French cyclist who won several prestigious races, including the Tour de France in 1909 and 1910.

While the MODESTE surname has its roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and diaspora communities. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references remain concentrated in the northern regions of France, where the name first gained prominence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Modeste

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

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

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

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