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

Palmatier, 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 Palmatier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Palmatier in America

Palmatier is the 18262nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Palmatier surname appeared 1,521 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 Palmatier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Palmatier 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 Palmatier

The surname Palmatier originated in France. It is believed to have derived from the old French word "palmetor," which means "one who works with palm leaves." The name is thought to have first appeared in the 12th century in the Normandy region of northern France.

Records show that the name was initially spelled in various ways, such as Palmateir, Palmateur, and Palmetier, before settling into its current form. The earliest known reference to the Palmatier name is found in a document from 1195, which mentions a landowner named Robert Palmetier in the village of Rouen.

During the Middle Ages, the Palmatier family likely worked as weavers or basket makers, utilizing palm leaves in their craft. As the name spread across France, it became associated with certain regions, such as Normandy, Brittany, and the Loire Valley.

One notable figure bearing the Palmatier surname was Jacques Palmatier (1585-1647), a French merchant and explorer who was among the first Europeans to establish trade routes with the indigenous peoples of Canada. He is credited with founding a settlement in what is now Quebec.

Another historical figure was Marie-Anne Palmatier (1768-1839), a French noblewoman who played a significant role in the French Revolution. She was known for her support of the Jacobin cause and her writings advocating for women's rights.

In the 17th century, some members of the Palmatier family immigrated to the Dutch colonies in North America, including New Amsterdam (later renamed New York). One of the earliest recorded Palmatiers in the New World was Pieter Palmatier (1620-1678), a farmer and landowner in what is now Brooklyn.

The Palmatier name also gained prominence in the American Revolutionary War, with several individuals serving in the Continental Army. Notably, Captain John Palmatier (1745-1821) fought in several major battles and later became a respected figure in his community in upstate New York.

Another notable Palmatier was Henry Palmatier (1812-1890), a businessman and philanthropist from Pennsylvania. He made his fortune in the coal mining industry and later donated significant funds to various educational and charitable causes.

While the Palmatier surname is not among the most common in the world, it maintains a rich history and connections to various regions, particularly in France, the Netherlands, and parts of North America.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Palmatier

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

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

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

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