Tard last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Tard

A derogatory term historically used to refer to someone considered intellectually disabled or slow.

Tard, 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 Tard surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Tard in America

Tard is the 121780th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tard surname appeared 131 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Tard.

The history of the last name Tard

The surname Tard originates from France, with historical evidence suggesting its use dating back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have its roots in the Old French word tard, meaning "slow" or "late." This word itself is derived from the Latin tardus, carrying a similar meaning. The term was likely a nickname or a descriptive moniker for someone perceived as slow in movement or action.

Early records of the surname Tard can be traced to the regions of Normandy and Brittany. These areas were known for their complex feudal societies and robust record-keeping, which included tax records, land grants, and other administrative documents. One of the earliest examples of the surname appears in the 12th century tax records of Normandy, where a Guillaume Tard is listed as a landowner in the area.

In historical manuscripts, variations of the name Tard have been documented. These include Tarte, Tarda, and Tardo. These variations can be attributed to regional dialects and the phonetic spelling conventions of the time. The name appeared in historical records such as the 1292 Census of Paris, which listed a certain Jean Tard as a resident of the city's outskirts.

One notable individual bearing the Tard surname is Jacques Tard, a 15th-century merchant from Brittany who played a significant role in local trade and commerce. Another illustrious figure is Marie Tard, born in 1602 and known for her contributions to the early development of medicinal practices in France.

In the 17th century, a Pierre Tard is documented to have emigrated to New France (modern-day Quebec, Canada), where he became one of the early European settlers contributing to the establishment of the colony. His descendants are known to have continued the family's lineage in North America.

The 18th century saw Charles Tard, a distinguished banker in Paris, who was instrumental in establishing financial institutions that catered to the burgeoning bourgeois class. In the same period, an artist by the name of Lucien Tard gained recognition for his landscape paintings, which remain part of private collections today.

In summary, the surname Tard has a rich history rooted in medieval France, with its meaning tied to descriptive characteristics. Its presence in historical records and notable individuals bearing the name across centuries highlights its significance in French culture and its diasporic contributions, especially in North America.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tard

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Tard was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 28.24% 37
Non-Hispanic Black Only 68.70% 90
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 0.00% 0

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.

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

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

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"Tard last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 15, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/tard-surname-popularity/.

"Tard last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/tard-surname-popularity/. Accessed 15 June, 2025

Tard last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/tard-surname-popularity/.

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