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

Octave, 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 Octave surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Octave in America

Octave is the 56972nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Octave surname appeared 358 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 Octave.

We can also compare 2010 data for Octave 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 Octave

The surname Octave has its origins in France, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the French word "octave," which means "eighth day" or "eighth tone of the scale" in music. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with someone involved in music or liturgical practices.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Octave can be found in the records of the Catholic Church in the region of Normandy, France, in the late 1500s. The name was likely used as a descriptive surname, given to individuals who may have been involved in musical activities or church services.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Octave began to appear in various historical documents and records across France. One notable individual was Jacques Octave, a French poet and playwright who lived from 1646 to 1719. His works were highly regarded during his time and contributed to the development of French literature.

Another prominent figure with the surname Octave was François-Marie Octave, a French naval officer and explorer who lived from 1772 to 1846. He is known for his expeditions to the Pacific Ocean and his contributions to the exploration and mapping of the region.

In the 19th century, the name Octave gained further recognition with the birth of Octave Mirbeau (1848-1917), a French writer and journalist. He was a prominent figure in the literary and political circles of his time and is best known for his works that criticized the social and political conditions of late 19th century France.

Another notable individual was Octave Gréard (1828-1904), a French educator and administrator who played a significant role in reforming the French education system during the late 19th century. His efforts contributed to the modernization of educational practices and the establishment of new educational institutions.

While the name Octave has its roots in France, it has also been adopted by individuals in other parts of the world, particularly in regions with strong French cultural influence. However, the name remains relatively uncommon, and its historical significance is primarily linked to its French origins and the individuals who carried it throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Octave

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

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

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

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