Explore the Family Name Poissant
The meaning of Poissant
French: nickname for a powerful robust individual, from Old French poissant ‘powerful, strong, vigorous’. In North America, this surname is sometimes (mis)translated into English as Fish and Fisher, possibly via its altered form Poisson ‘fish’. History: Jacques Poissant dit La Saline from Marennes in Charente-Maritime, France, married Marguerite Bessette in QC c.1699. His descendants also bear an altered form of the surname, Poisson, its (mis)translations (see above), and also the surname Boileau. Some characteristic forenames: French Cecile, Gilles, Herve, Jacques, Laurent, Lilianne.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Poissant in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Poissant saw a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. The rank of the surname dropped from 33,142 to 34,618, marking a decrease of approximately 4.45%. However, the count of individuals with this surname increased marginally from 651 to 653, reflecting a growth rate of about 0.31%. The proportion per 100,000 people also decreased by roughly 8.33%, moving from 0.24 in 2000 to 0.22 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #33,142 | #34,618 | -4.45% |
| Count | 651 | 653 | 0.31% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.24 | 0.22 | -8.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Poissant
As for the ethnic identity associated with the surname Poissant, Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts over the decade. In 2000, people with this surname were predominantly White, accounting for 97.39% of the total. By 2010, this percentage had slightly decreased to 92.80%. The percentage of those identifying as Hispanic saw a significant increase, jumping from 1.38% in 2000 to 3.37% in 2010. There was also an increase in the percentage of individuals identifying with two or more races, which rose from 1.23% in 2000 to 2.14% in 2010. The census showed no individuals with this surname identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native during both years. The Black population, however, appeared in the 2010 dataset, constituting 1.23% of the Poissants, though they were not represented in the 2000 census data.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.39% | 92.8% | -4.71% |
| Hispanic | 1.38% | 3.37% | 144.2% |
| Two or More Races | 1.23% | 2.14% | 73.98% |
| Black | 0% | 1.23% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |