Explore the Family Name Dauphin
The meaning of Dauphin
French and Haitian: from the French personal name Dauphin, from Latin Delphinus, derived from Greek delphis ‘dolphin’. This name was borne by a 4th-century Christian saint who was bishop of Bordeaux, and from the early 12th century it was in use as a hereditary personal name in the family of the counts of Albon, so that it soon came to be used as a title and led to their territory (capital Grenoble) being known as the Dauphiné. When it became part of the Kingdom of France in 1349, the title of dauphin thereafter denoted the heir-apparent to the throne, and it is possible that in some cases this is the origin of the surname, either denoting a member of the Dauphin’s household or applied as a nickname in the sense of ‘prince’. Some characteristic forenames: French/Haitian Andre, Armand, Emile, Antoine, Benoit, Carmelle, Fernand, Georges, Jean Claude, Laure, Luckner, Maryse.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Dauphin in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Dauphin has seen a slight increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked 17,521 in popularity and had approximately 1,482 people with this name. By 2010, it rose to the rank of 17,202 with an increase of 1.82% and the count of individuals with this surname reached 1,646, marking an 11.07% increase. The proportion per 100k also saw a mild growth of 1.82%, changing from 0.55 to 0.56.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,521 | #17,202 | 1.82% |
| Count | 1,482 | 1,646 | 11.07% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.55 | 0.56 | 1.82% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Dauphin
Regarding ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts in the ethnic identities associated with the surname Dauphin from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the majority of the individuals with this surname identified as White (65.86%), followed by Black (28.81%). Hispanic and those identifying with two or more races comprised smaller percentages at 2.56% and 2.16% respectively. By 2010, while White and Black ethnicities still predominated, there was a notable increase in the percentage of individuals identifying as Black (35.84%) and Hispanic (3.65%). Interestingly, small percentages of Asian/Pacific Islander (0.67%) and American Indian and Alaskan Native (0.30%) identities emerged in 2010, which were not present in 2000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 65.86% | 57.65% | -12.47% |
| Black | 28.81% | 35.84% | 24.4% |
| Hispanic | 2.56% | 3.65% | 42.58% |
| Two or More Races | 2.16% | 1.88% | -12.96% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.67% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.3% | 0% |