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

Rossignol, 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 Rossignol surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rossignol in America

Rossignol is the 17516th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rossignol surname appeared 1,609 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 Rossignol.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rossignol 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 Rossignol

The surname Rossignol has its origins in France, specifically in the northern regions of the country. It emerged during the Middle Ages, likely in the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the French word "rossignol," which means "nightingale," a small songbird known for its melodious and intricate vocalizations.

The name's connection to the nightingale bird suggests that it may have initially been a descriptive surname, perhaps given to individuals who possessed a melodious voice or were skilled singers or musicians. It could also have been a nickname or a reference to someone who lived near a place where nightingales were abundant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Rossignol name appears in the Armorial Général de France, a collection of armorial bearings compiled in the late 17th century under the orders of King Louis XIV. This record includes entries for several Rossignol families from various regions of France, indicating the name's widespread presence across the country.

During the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Rossignol surname was Nicolas Rossignol, a French theologian and author born in Normandy around 1520. He wrote several works on religious topics and was involved in theological debates of his time.

In the 18th century, Jean-Baptiste Rossignol (1736-1814) was a French architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Palais de la Bourse (Stock Exchange Palace) and the Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul.

Another prominent individual with the Rossignol name was Frédéric Rossignol (1855-1927), a French politician and lawyer who served as a deputy in the National Assembly and held the position of Minister of Public Works in the early 20th century.

Moving into the 19th century, Edmond Rossignol (1847-1925) was a French playwright and novelist who wrote several successful plays and novels, including the acclaimed work "Les Vagabonds."

Finally, in the 20th century, René Rossignol (1905-1996) was a French industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Rossignol ski and sporting goods company, which became a renowned brand in the winter sports industry.

While the Rossignol surname has its roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by French immigrants and descendants over the centuries. However, the name's origins remain firmly tied to the nightingale bird and the linguistic heritage of the French language.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rossignol

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

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

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

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