Valance
A surname derived from the French word "valence," referring to someone from the town of Valence.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Valance. That puts it at #153,769 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Valance surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#153,769
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
106
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 106 bearers of the surname Valance in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 153769th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Valance, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (14.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Valance
The surname Valance originates from France and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "valance," which referred to a type of decorative hanging or curtain often found in castles and manors of the time. The name likely originated as a occupational surname for those who made or sold these valances.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Valance can be found in the 13th century in the region of Normandy, France. It appears in various records and manuscripts from that era, often spelled as "Valence" or "Valaunce." One notable early bearer of the name was Jean Valance, a merchant from Rouen who was mentioned in a trade document dated 1276.
In the 14th century, the name Valance began to spread beyond Normandy to other parts of France, as well as to England and Scotland, likely due to the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The surname is found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, England from 1273, which lists a Willelmus de Valance.
In the 15th century, the Valance family had established itself in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. One notable member of this Scottish branch was Sir John Valance, a knight who fought in the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Valance continued to be found throughout England, Scotland, and France. Notable bearers of the name during this period include Thomas Valance (1576-1647), an English clergyman and author, and Jacques Valance (1605-1678), a French mathematician and astronomer.
In the 18th century, the Valance family had established branches in Ireland and the American colonies. One notable American bearer of the name was John Valance (1738-1812), a soldier and landowner in Virginia who fought in the Revolutionary War.
Other notable individuals with the surname Valance throughout history include Wilbur Valance (1868-1940), an American politician and lawyer, and Armand Valance (1887-1966), a French painter and sculptor associated with the Cubist movement.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Valance
Among Census respondents with the surname Valance, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (14.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Valance bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Valance surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White83.0%
- Hispanic or Latino14.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Valance surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #153,769 | #153,769 | 0.0% |
| Count | 106 | 106 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Valance bearers went from 106 to 106 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #153,769 to #153,769.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Valance
FAQ
Valance surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Valance?
The surname Valance holds position #153,769 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Valance surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Valance, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (14.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.