Explore the Family Name Dessalines
The meaning of Dessalines
Haitian: topographic name, with fused French preposition and definite article des ‘from the’, from the plural form of French saline ‘salt works’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Dessalines in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Dessalines has increased significantly between 2000 and 2010. Ranked 99,725th in 2000, it climbed to 70,833rd position by 2010, reflecting a growth of nearly 29 percent. In terms of count, the number of people with this surname also increased from 168 in 2000 to 276 in 2010 – an impressive growth of about 64 percent. The proportion per 100k people carrying this surname also rose by 50 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #99,725 | #70,833 | 28.97% |
| Count | 168 | 276 | 64.29% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.06 | 0.09 | 50% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Dessalines
The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides an insight into the ethnic identity of individuals bearing the surname Dessalines. In 2000, approximately 86.9 percent identified as Black, and this figure increased to 91.67 percent by 2010. There was also a notable shift towards identifying as White or Hispanic over the decade, with these categories reporting no representatives in 2000 but accounting for 2.17 percent and 2.9 percent respectively in 2010. However, the proportion identifying with two or more races dropped significantly from 11.9 percent in 2000 to just 3.26 percent in 2010. There were no reported instances of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 86.9% | 91.67% | 5.49% |
| Two or More Races | 11.9% | 3.26% | -72.61% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.9% | 0% |
| White | 0% | 2.17% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |