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

Voils, 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 Voils surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Voils in America

Voils is the 66754th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Voils surname appeared 296 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 Voils.

We can also compare 2010 data for Voils 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 Voils

The surname VOILS has its origins in France, with records dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "voile," which means "veil" or "sail." This suggests that the name may have been associated with occupations related to the textile industry or maritime professions.

In the medieval period, surnames often emerged from occupational or descriptive nicknames. The name VOILS may have been initially used to refer to someone who worked with veils or sails, or it could have been a descriptive term for someone who wore a distinctive veil or sailed ships.

Early records of the name VOILS can be found in various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France region. Some of the earliest known bearers of the name include Jean VOILS, a merchant from Rouen, who was mentioned in a 1375 trade document, and Pierre VOILS, a sailmaker from La Rochelle, recorded in a guild register from 1428.

As the name spread across France, it underwent variations in spelling, such as VOILE, VOYLES, and VOISINS. These variations likely reflected regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

One notable figure with the VOILS surname was Jacques VOILS (1570-1639), a renowned French navigator and explorer. He was born in Dieppe, Normandy, and is credited with mapping the coastlines of South America and establishing trading posts in Brazil and the West Indies.

Another historical figure was Étienne VOILS (1622-1698), a French sculptor and architect who worked on several prestigious projects, including the Palace of Versailles. His works can be found in various churches and public buildings throughout France.

In the 18th century, Jean-Baptiste VOILS (1733-1810) was a prominent French botanist and horticulturist. He made significant contributions to the study of plant life and was responsible for introducing many new species to Europe from his expeditions to South America and the Caribbean.

The VOILS surname also has a presence in other parts of Europe, likely due to migration and intermarriage. For instance, there are records of the name in England, where it may have been introduced during the Norman Conquest or through later French immigration.

Overall, the surname VOILS has a rich history that spans several centuries and reflects the diverse occupations and origins of its bearers across France and other European regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Voils

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

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

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

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