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

Vigilance, 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 Vigilance surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vigilance in America

Vigilance is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vigilance surname appeared 101 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 Vigilance.

The history of the last name Vigilance

The surname VIGILANCE originates from the Old French word "vigilance," which means "watchfulness" or "vigilance." The name likely emerged in the 12th century during the Norman conquest of England and the subsequent influx of French words into the English language.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname VIGILANCE can be traced back to the 13th century in the county of Normandy, France. It is believed that the name was initially assigned as a descriptive nickname to individuals who were known for their alertness, attentiveness, or vigilant nature.

One of the earliest documented references to the name VIGILANCE can be found in the "Calendars of the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland," dating back to the late 13th century. This historical record mentions a certain "John de Vigilance," who was a landowner in the Scottish Borders region.

In the 14th century, the VIGILANCE surname spread across various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is worth noting that during this period, the name was often spelled differently, such as "Vigilaunce" or "Vigilans," reflecting the variations in spelling conventions of the time.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname VIGILANCE. One such person was Sir William Vigilance (1568-1642), an English military officer who served under Queen Elizabeth I and played a significant role in the Siege of Ostend during the Eighty Years' War.

Another prominent figure was Mary Vigilance (1655-1718), a British writer and philosopher who published several influential works on moral philosophy and ethics during the Age of Enlightenment.

In the 19th century, James Vigilance (1812-1879) was a Scottish inventor and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines and agricultural machinery.

Additionally, the VIGILANCE surname has been associated with several notable places throughout history. For instance, Vigilance Manor in Gloucestershire, England, was a historic estate that was once owned by a branch of the Vigilance family in the 16th century.

Furthermore, the town of Vigilance Falls in New Hampshire, United States, was named after Samuel Vigilance (1776-1841), a prominent local figure who established a sawmill and played a crucial role in the town's early development.

While the surname VIGILANCE may not be as common as some others, it has persisted through the ages, carrying with it a rich history and a connection to the virtues of watchfulness and vigilance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vigilance

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

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 Vigilance 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.

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

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

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