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

Picar, 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 Picar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Picar in America

Picar is the 96368th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Picar surname appeared 189 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 Picar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Picar 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 Picar

The surname Picar is of French origin, with roots tracing back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have emerged as a variant spelling of the Old French word "picart," which referred to individuals who hailed from the region of Picardy in northern France.

The earliest known record of the surname Picar dates back to the 13th century, where it appeared in various municipal records and charters from the towns and villages of Picardy. One notable example is the mention of a Nicolas Picar in the charter rolls of the town of Amiens in 1278.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name Picar began to spread beyond the confines of Picardy, with instances of the surname appearing in records from neighboring regions such as Normandy and Île-de-France. This dispersal was likely due to the migration of individuals seeking employment or fleeing conflicts that plagued the region during this turbulent period.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the surname Picar was Jean Picar, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Beauvais in the late 15th century. Records indicate that he was born around 1450 and played a significant role in the city's economic affairs until his death in 1512.

Another notable figure was Guillaume Picar, a renowned scholar and philosopher who taught at the prestigious University of Paris in the early 16th century. Born in the town of Abbeville in Picardy around 1480, Picar authored several influential treatises on logic and metaphysics, earning him a reputation as one of the leading intellectuals of his time.

In the 17th century, the name Picar gained further prominence with the exploits of François Picar, a French explorer and cartographer who accompanied Samuel de Champlain on several expeditions to the New World. Picar's detailed maps and journals from these voyages proved invaluable in the exploration and settlement of New France (present-day eastern Canada).

As the centuries progressed, the surname Picar continued to be found across various regions of France, with variations in spelling emerging, such as Picart, Piccard, and Picard. Notably, the name was also adopted by families of noble lineage, including the Picard family, who held land and titles in the province of Burgundy during the 18th century.

Throughout its long history, the surname Picar has been borne by numerous individuals who have left their mark in various fields, from academics and artists to military leaders and politicians. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, its origins remain firmly rooted in the rich cultural heritage of northern France.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Picar

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

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

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

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