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

Parfait, 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 Parfait surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Parfait in America

Parfait is the 22906th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Parfait surname appeared 1,117 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 Parfait.

We can also compare 2010 data for Parfait 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 Parfait

The surname Parfait is of French origin, deriving from the Old French word "parfait" which means "perfect" or "accomplished." It emerged during the Middle Ages, likely in the 12th or 13th century.

The name's roots can be traced back to northern regions of France, particularly areas like Normandy and Brittany. It may have initially referred to someone with a high level of skill or talent, or someone considered virtuous or morally upright.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Parfait surname appeared in a 14th-century document from the city of Rouen, where a merchant named Jean Parfait was mentioned. In the 15th century, a notable figure named Pierre Parfait was a respected scholar and theologian at the University of Paris.

During the Renaissance period, the Parfait surname gained further prominence. In the late 16th century, a French poet and dramatist named François Parfait gained acclaim for his works, including the play "La Fausse Turquie" (The False Turkey).

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Parfait name was associated with various notable individuals. Among them was Claude Parfait, a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Paris during the reign of Louis XIV. Another notable figure was Marie Parfait, a celebrated actress who performed at the Comédie-Française in the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, the Parfait surname was linked to several influential figures in the arts and sciences. One such individual was Louis Parfait, a French painter and sculptor who gained recognition for his works depicting historical and mythological scenes.

As the centuries passed, the Parfait surname continued to be associated with noteworthy individuals across various fields. For instance, in the early 20th century, a French chemist named Henri Parfait made significant contributions to the study of organic compounds and their synthesis.

While the surname Parfait is not among the most common in France today, it has a rich history and has been borne by many accomplished individuals over the centuries, reflecting the name's original meaning of perfection and accomplishment.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Parfait

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

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

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

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