Explore the Family Name Besancon
The meaning of Besancon
French (Besançon): habitational name from Besançon in Doubs, which is probably named with a Celtiberian element ves ‘mountain’ + the suffix -unt, with a further Latin suffix -io (genitive -ionis). In folk etymology there has been some association of the placename with Old French bison, a word denoting the (European) bison, which appears in the arms of the city. Compare Bezanson. History: Jean-Georges Besançon/Bezanson from Étobon in Haute-Saône, France, married first Jeanne…in France c.1730, and second Catherine Boutilier in Lunenberg, NS, Canada, in 1753. Some characteristic forenames: French Jacques, Jean Pierre, Renaud.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Besancon in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Besancon ranked 42,363 in popularity in 2000 and slightly dropped to 42,511 in 2010, a marginal decrease of 0.35%. In terms of occurrence, there were 482 individuals with the Besancon surname recorded in 2000, which modestly increased to 510 people by 2010 - a growth rate of 5.81%. However, the proportion per 100,000 people decreased by 5.56% over that same period, dropping from 0.18 to 0.17.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #42,363 | #42,511 | -0.35% |
| Count | 482 | 510 | 5.81% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.18 | 0.17 | -5.56% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Besancon
According to the ethnic identity data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the majority of individuals with the Besancon surname identified as White, constituting 96.89% in 2000 and decreasing slightly to 95.49% in 2010. Those identifying as Hispanic witnessed an increase of 88.46% from 1.04% in 2000 to 1.96% in 2010. The category of Two or more races was reported in 2010 with 0.98%, but not in 2000. Other ethnicities such as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native showed no change during this time frame, with either zero or suppressed data for privacy reasons.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.89% | 95.49% | -1.44% |
| Hispanic | 1.04% | 1.96% | 88.46% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0.98% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |