Nault last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Nault

A French occupational surname derived from "naud," referring to a maker or seller of small boats or barges.

Nault, 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 Nault surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nault in America

Nault is the 10829th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nault surname appeared 2,941 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 Nault.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nault 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 10829 10816 0.12%
Count 2,941 2,705 8.36%
Proportion per 100k 1.00 1.00 0.00%

The history of the last name Nault

The surname NAULT is of French origin, with its roots traced back to the northern regions of France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "naut," which means "dweller by the hill." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who lived near or on a hill or elevated land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 13th century, where it appeared in the Livre des Métiers, a medieval French document that listed various professions and trades. In this record, the name was spelled "Nault," indicating its long-standing history.

During the 14th century, the name NAULT appeared in several historical records, including the Livre de la Taille de Paris, a tax register from 1292. This document provides valuable insights into the prevalence of the name in the region around that time.

The name NAULT has also been found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This reference suggests that individuals bearing this surname may have been present in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

One notable individual with the surname NAULT was Jean Nault (1604-1689), a French explorer and fur trader who was among the first Europeans to explore the Great Lakes region of North America. His explorations and interactions with Native American tribes contributed significantly to the early understanding of the region.

Another prominent figure was Jacques Nault (1677-1732), a French architect and engineer renowned for his work on several iconic buildings in Paris, including the Palais-Royal and the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall).

In the literary realm, Émile Nault (1852-1928) was a celebrated French novelist and playwright known for his works that explored themes of human nature and societal issues. His novels, such as "Le Sang des Races" (The Blood of Races), received critical acclaim and contributed to the development of French literature in the late 19th century.

The surname NAULT also has a connection to the military, with General Antoine Nault (1792-1872) being a distinguished French military leader who served during the Napoleonic Wars and the French Revolution. His bravery and strategic acumen earned him numerous honors and decorations.

Lastly, Léon Nault (1835-1907) was a prominent French politician and lawyer who served as a member of the National Assembly and played a significant role in shaping legal reforms in France during the late 19th century.

While the surname NAULT has its origins in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and exploration. The name carries a rich historical legacy, reflecting the diverse contributions of individuals bearing this surname across various fields and eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nault

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

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 Nault was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 88.95% 2,616
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.78% 23
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 1.05% 31
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 2.58% 76
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.01% 59
Hispanic Origin 4.62% 136

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 Nault has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 88.95% 92.24% -3.63%
Black 0.78% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 1.05% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 2.58% 2.22% 15.00%
Two or More Races 2.01% 1.81% 10.47%
Hispanic 4.62% 3.03% 41.57%

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

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

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"Nault last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/nault-surname-popularity/.

"Nault last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/nault-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Nault last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/nault-surname-popularity/.

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