Explore the Family Name Lafayette
The meaning of Lafayette
1. Americanized form of French Lafeuillade: habitational name from Lafeuillade or La Feuillade, names of several places in the southwestern part of France. 2. French: diminutive of Lafaye. This is a very rare surname in France. History: Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), was a rich French aristocrat and soldier who allied himself with the cause of liberty, religious toleration, and the abolition of slavery. He came to North America in 1777 and played a major part in securing George Washington’s victory over the British. Some characteristic forenames: French Camille, Jean Marie.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Lafayette in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Lafayette saw a slight decrease in rank from 2000 to 2010, moving from 12,009 to 12,035, a change of -0.22%. Despite this, the actual number of individuals with the surname increased by 8.63%, growing from 2,387 to 2,593. The proportion per 100k people remained consistent at 0.88.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,009 | #12,035 | -0.22% |
| Count | 2,387 | 2,593 | 8.63% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.88 | 0.88 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Lafayette
In terms of ethnicity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates shifts within various ethnic backgrounds. From 2000 to 2010, there was a notable increase in individuals with the Lafayette surname identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander (44.07%) and those reporting two or more races (18.62%). The largest ethnic group remained those of White identity, though it decreased slightly from 57.73% to 54.84%. There was also an increase in those identifying as Hispanic (29.12%) and Black (3.59%), whereas the percentage of American Indian and Alaskan Native identities decreased by 32.61%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 57.73% | 54.84% | -5.01% |
| Black | 35.11% | 36.37% | 3.59% |
| Hispanic | 3.64% | 4.7% | 29.12% |
| Two or More Races | 2.47% | 2.93% | 18.62% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.59% | 0.85% | 44.07% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.46% | 0.31% | -32.61% |