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

Soyer, 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 Soyer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Soyer in America

Soyer is the 91625th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Soyer surname appeared 201 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 Soyer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Soyer 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 Soyer

The surname SOYER is of French origin, originating in the 12th century from the Old French word "soier" which means silk maker or silk worker. It is an occupational name that was given to individuals who were involved in the production, dyeing, or selling of silk.

The name is believed to have first emerged in the regions of Lyon and Paris, which were major centers of the silk trade during the Middle Ages. The earliest recorded instances of the SOYER surname can be found in French census records and parish registers from the 13th and 14th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the SOYER name appears in the "Livre des Métiers" (Book of Trades), a 13th-century manuscript that documented the various guilds and trades in Paris. This document lists several individuals with the SOYER surname, indicating their involvement in the silk trade.

In the 15th century, the SOYER family gained prominence in the city of Lyon, which was renowned for its silk production. Jean SOYER (1430-1498) was a prominent silk merchant and dyer who helped establish the city's reputation for fine silk fabrics.

Another notable figure in the history of the SOYER name was Nicolas SOYER (1610-1678), a French writer and translator who was born in Paris. He is best known for his translations of ancient Greek and Latin texts into French.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the SOYER surname spread beyond France to other parts of Europe and the Americas. Some notable individuals with this surname include:

1. Alexis SOYER (1809-1858), a French chef and author who gained fame for his innovative cooking techniques and his work improving the diet of soldiers during the Crimean War.

2. Pierre SOYER (1745-1820), a French architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Hôtel de la Monnaie (Paris Mint).

3. Jean-François SOYER (1755-1835), a French painter and engraver known for his landscapes and genre scenes.

4. Modeste SOYER (1817-1888), a French artist and sculptor who created numerous public monuments and sculptures in Paris.

5. Eugène SOYER (1850-1919), a French lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies for the department of Marne.

While the SOYER surname has French origins, it has since spread worldwide and can be found in various countries and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Soyer

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

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

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

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