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

Voltaire, 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 Voltaire surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Voltaire in America

Voltaire is the 24554th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Voltaire surname appeared 1,018 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 Voltaire.

We can also compare 2010 data for Voltaire 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 Voltaire

The surname Voltaire is of French origin, dating back to the 17th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French words "volte" and "aire," which together meant "winding ground" or "territory of winding paths." The name was likely given to families residing in areas with winding roads or paths.

Voltaire is not a common surname, and its earliest recorded use can be traced back to the late 1600s in the Île-de-France region of northern France. One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was the renowned French writer and philosopher François-Marie Arouet, better known by his pen name Voltaire (1694-1778).

In the 18th century, the name Voltaire appeared in several historical documents and records in France. Notably, it was mentioned in the parish registers of the town of Châtenay-Malabry, located in the modern-day Hauts-de-Seine department, near Paris.

Over the centuries, the surname Voltaire has been associated with a few notable individuals, such as:

1. François-Marie Arouet (1694-1778), the famous French Enlightenment writer and philosopher, widely known by his pen name Voltaire.
2. Armand Voltaire (1806-1870), a French poet and dramatist, born in Paris.
3. Émile Voltaire (1832-1903), a French architect and urban planner, known for his work in Paris during the late 19th century.
4. Louis Voltaire (1870-1945), a French politician and lawyer, who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies in the early 20th century.
5. Claude Voltaire (1905-1982), a French artist and painter, known for his abstract and expressionist works.

While the surname Voltaire is of French origin and has a long history, it remains relatively uncommon, particularly outside of France. The name's association with the iconic Enlightenment writer and philosopher François-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire, has undoubtedly contributed to its enduring legacy and recognition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Voltaire

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

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

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

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