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

Peasant, 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 Peasant surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peasant in America

Peasant is the 116829th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peasant surname appeared 149 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 Peasant.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peasant 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 Peasant

The surname "PEASANT" is an occupational name derived from the Old French word "paisanz" or "paisant" meaning a rustic or peasant farmer. It originated in Northern France during the Middle Ages, a time when surnames were becoming hereditary.

The name likely referred to someone who worked as a peasant or farmer on the land of a feudal lord. It may have been given as a descriptive nickname to distinguish an individual from others in the same village or area.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in medieval French documents and records. For example, a Richard Paisanz is mentioned in the "Pipe Rolls" of Gloucestershire, England, in 1195.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various spellings, such as Paisant, Paysant, and Paysaunt, reflecting the evolving nature of surnames during that time. The name is also found in the "Hundred Rolls" of Huntingdonshire, England, from 1273, where a Walter le Paisant is listed.

One notable individual with the surname was Jean Paysant, a French poet and dramatist who lived in the late 15th century. He is known for his work "Le Monologue du Franc Archier de Baignolet," which provides insight into the life of a common soldier during the reign of Louis XI.

Another significant figure was François Paysant, a French mathematician and astronomer born in 1675. He made contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and was elected to the French Academy of Sciences in 1719.

In the 16th century, the surname appears to have spread beyond France. For instance, there are records of a John Peasant in the English parish records of Datchworth, Hertfordshire, in 1564.

The name "PEASANT" can also be found in various place names, such as Peasant Street in Gloucestershire, England, and Peasant Green in Suffolk, England. These place names likely derived from individuals with the surname who lived in or owned land in those areas.

It is worth noting that while the surname "PEASANT" may have originated from humble beginnings, it does not necessarily reflect the social or economic status of all individuals bearing the name throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peasant

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

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

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

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