Explore the Family Name Dufresne
The meaning of Dufresne
French: topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent ash tree, from Old French fresne ‘ash’ (from Latin fraxinus), or a habitational name for someone from Le Fresne, the name of several places in the northern part of France, named with this word. It is formed with fused preposition and definite article du ‘from the’. Compare Ash, Ashe, Defrain, Dufrane, and Dufrene. Some characteristic forenames: French Armand, Normand, Andre, Edouard, Gabrielle, Gaston, Jacques, Lucien, Olivier, Pierre, Ulysse, Aime.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Dufresne in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Dufresne had a slight drop in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked as the 6994th most popular surname, but by 2010, it dropped to rank 7236, reflecting a decrease of 3.46%. Despite this fall in ranking, the count of individuals carrying the Dufresne surname rose from 4419 to 4611, marking an increase of 4.34%. However, when considering the proportion per 100,000 people, there was a decline from 1.64 to 1.56, indicating a rate reduction of 4.88%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,994 | #7,236 | -3.46% |
| Count | 4,419 | 4,611 | 4.34% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.64 | 1.56 | -4.88% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Dufresne
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals shifts in the ethnic identities associated with the Dufresne surname between 2000 and 2010. While the majority of Dufresnes were of White ethnicity, dropping slightly from 92.17% to 88.53%, there were significant increases in the Hispanic and Black populations with this surname, rising by 68.70% and 72.65% respectively. Although the Asian/Pacific Islander Dufresnes decreased by 15.25%, those identifying with two or more races increased by 6.21%, and the American Indian and Alaskan Native population saw a modest growth of 14.29%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.17% | 88.53% | -3.95% |
| Black | 3.62% | 6.25% | 72.65% |
| Hispanic | 1.31% | 2.21% | 68.7% |
| Two or More Races | 1.61% | 1.71% | 6.21% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.7% | 0.8% | 14.29% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.59% | 0.5% | -15.25% |
Dufresne ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Dufresne is British & Irish, which comprises 37.6% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (31.4%) and Eastern European (5.7%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, Italian, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Indigenous American.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 37.6% |
| French & German | 31.4% |
| Eastern European | 5.7% |
| Other | 25.4% |
Possible origins of the surname Dufresne
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Dufresne have recent ancestry locations in United Kingdom and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 69.40% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 69.40% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 68.50% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 68.50% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 68.50% |
What Dufresne haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Dufresne is R-CTS241, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS241 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L2 and I-Z26381, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Maynard, Searles, Pritchett, Sherman, Prince, Rowlands, Reece, Moon, Parr, Gee.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Dufresne surname are: T2, H, H1. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Dufresne have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Dufresne" Surname 27.8%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Dufresne" Surname 18.2%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Dufresne" Surname 19.6%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Dufresne" Surname 23.0%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Dufresne?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Dufresne are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition