Explore the Family Name Harnois
The meaning of Harnois
French: metonymic occupational name for a harness maker, saddler, or maker of armor, from Old French harneis ‘equipment, accoutrements (of a soldier or horse)’. History: Isaac Harnois from Yvetot in Seine-Maritime, France, married Marguerite Blaise in QC in 1670. Jean Harnois from La Motte in Côtes-d’Armor, Brittany (France), married Marie Mercier in Saint-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, QC, in 1749. Some characteristic forenames: French Armand, Mederic, Normand, Emile, Lucien.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Harnois in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Harnois has seen a slight decrease in popularity between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 27,694 in terms of surnames in the United States, but by 2010, it had dropped to a rank of 28,704. Despite this dip in ranking, the actual count of people with the Harnois surname increased slightly from 818 to 830 in the same time period, representing a growth of 1.47%. The proportion per 100,000 people also declined by 6.67%, from 0.3 to 0.28.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #27,694 | #28,704 | -3.65% |
| Count | 818 | 830 | 1.47% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.3 | 0.28 | -6.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Harnois
When looking at the ethnic identity associated with the Harnois surname, we see some shifts between 2000 and 2010 according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. The majority of individuals with this surname identify as white, although there was a slight decrease from 94.38% to 92.53%. Simultaneously, there were increases in those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander (from 0.98% to 1.20%) and American Indian and Alaskan Native (from 2.32% to 2.41%). Additionally, new identifications emerged in 2010 with 1.69% of Harnois identifying as Hispanic and 0.84% identifying as Black. Those who identified with two or more races remained relatively consistent around 1.33%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.38% | 92.53% | -1.96% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 2.32% | 2.41% | 3.88% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.69% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.34% | 1.33% | -0.75% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.98% | 1.2% | 22.45% |
| Black | 0% | 0.84% | 0% |