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

Vasseur, 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 Vasseur surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vasseur in America

Vasseur is the 29261st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vasseur surname appeared 809 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 Vasseur.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vasseur 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 Vasseur

The surname VASSEUR originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "vassor," which means "vassal" or "feudal tenant." The name was initially given to those who held land or property as vassals under a lord or noble.

The earliest recorded instances of the VASSEUR surname can be found in various historical documents from the 12th and 13th centuries in the northern regions of France, particularly in Normandy and Picardy. These regions were known for their prominent feudal system, where landholdings and vassalage were common practices.

One of the earliest known bearers of the VASSEUR name was Renaud le Vasseur, who was mentioned in a charter from the Abbey of Fécamp in Normandy, dated around 1180. This charter documented land transactions and agreements between the abbey and local landholders.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Trésor des Chartes, a collection of royal charters and documents from the French monarchy. A certain Guillaume Vasseur was recorded in these documents as a landowner in the region of Picardy.

The VASSEUR surname was also associated with various place names in northern France, such as Vasseur-sur-Marne and Vasseur-le-Franc. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the VASSEUR surname who held lands or manors in those locations.

Notable individuals with the VASSEUR surname include:

1. Jacques Vasseur (c. 1500-1572), a French Protestant theologian and author who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in France.
2. Pierre Vasseur (1639-1728), a French architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Church of Saint-Louis-en-l'Île.
3. Jean-Baptiste Vasseur (1798-1869), a French naturalist and entomologist known for his contributions to the study of insects.
4. Léon Vasseur (1844-1914), a French geologist and paleontologist who made significant discoveries in the field of paleobotany.
5. Marthe Vasseur (1890-1969), a French soprano and voice teacher who performed with the Paris Opera and taught at the Paris Conservatory.

Throughout its history, the VASSEUR surname has maintained its association with landed gentry and nobility in France, reflecting the feudal origins of the name. While its prevalence may have shifted over time, it remains a recognizable French surname with deep roots in the country's medieval history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vasseur

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

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

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

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