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

Prudent, 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 Prudent surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Prudent in America

Prudent is the 51066th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Prudent surname appeared 408 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 Prudent.

We can also compare 2010 data for Prudent 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 Prudent

The surname Prudent is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "prudent," meaning "prudent" or "wise." This name first emerged in the 12th century and was likely used as a descriptive nickname for someone who exhibited prudence or wisdom in their actions.

The earliest recorded instances of the Prudent surname can be found in medieval records from various regions of France, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. One notable early bearer of this name was Jean Prudent, a French nobleman and landowner who lived in the 13th century and whose name appears in a charter from the year 1264.

During the Middle Ages, the Prudent name was also found in other parts of Europe, such as England and Germany, where it was often spelled as "Prudent" or variations like "Prudente" or "Prudenz." In England, the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners compiled in 1086, does not include any individuals with the surname Prudent, suggesting that the name may have been introduced to the country later, possibly during the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Prudent surname in England dates back to the 14th century. In 1379, a man named William Prudent was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Borough of Colchester, Essex.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Prudent. These include:

1. Pierre Prudent (c. 1598-1670), a French painter and engraver known for his religious works and portraits.
2. Jean-Baptiste Prudent (1770-1835), a French general who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a member of the Chamber of Deputies.
3. Émile Prudent (1817-1864), a French inventor and entrepreneur who pioneered early developments in internal combustion engines and motorcycles.
4. Eugène Prudent (1836-1923), a French sculptor known for his monumental works and busts, including sculptures in the Louvre Museum.
5. Léon Prudent (1865-1940), a French journalist and politician who served as a member of the National Assembly and advocated for workers' rights.

The Prudent surname is still present in various parts of the world today, with notable concentrations in France, Canada (particularly in Quebec), and other French-speaking regions, reflecting its French origins and the migration patterns of French settlers throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Prudent

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

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

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

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