Explore the Family Name Bonaparte
The meaning of Bonaparte
1. Italian: from the personal name B(u)onaparte, composed of the elements b(u)ona ‘good’ + parte ‘solution, match’, a name bestowed as an expression of satisfaction at the child’s arrival. The name has also been adopted as a Jewish surname. This surname is also found in France (mainly northern). 2. African American and West Indian: from the personal name Bonaparte, adopted in honor of the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte; or adoption of the surname of the French Emperor. Compare Napoleon. History: The family of the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) had originally come to the island of Corsica from Tuscany in 1512. They were landowners, proud of their noble Italian background, and they claimed descent from a 10th-century count of Pistoia. Jerome Bonaparte, Napoleon’s brother, married Elizabeth Patterson in Baltimore, MD, in 1803, but the emperor refused to recognize the marriage and it was annulled. Many years later her son’s legitimacy was recognized by Napoleon III. Her grandson Charles Joseph Bonaparte (1851–1921) was secretary of the navy and US attorney general. Another grandson, Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte II, graduated from West Point in 1852, but resigned from the US Army to serve with the French army. Some characteristic forenames: French Collette, Napoleon, Pierre.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bonaparte in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Bonaparte has seen a slight increase from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it ranked 13,503 in popularity and rose to 13,397 in 2010, indicating a 0.79% increase. The count of individuals with this surname also increased by 10.12%, rising from 2,065 in 2000 to 2,274 in 2010. The proportion of people with this name per 100,000 residents, however, remained steady at 0.77.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,503 | #13,397 | 0.79% |
| Count | 2,065 | 2,274 | 10.12% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.77 | 0.77 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bonaparte
When it comes to the ethnic identity associated with the Bonaparte surname, there were notable changes from 2000 to 2010 as indicated by the Decennial U.S. Census data. There was an increase in those identifying as two or more races (from 2.37% to 3.03%) and those identifying as Hispanic (11.38% to 13.98%). However, there was a decrease in those who identify as White, dropping from 16.71% to 15.00%. The largest ethnic group associated with the Bonaparte surname remains Black, even though this percentage decreased slightly from 67.8% to 66.27% during this period. No individuals with this surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 67.8% | 66.27% | -2.26% |
| White | 16.71% | 15% | -10.23% |
| Hispanic | 11.38% | 13.98% | 22.85% |
| Two or More Races | 2.37% | 3.03% | 27.85% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |