Explore the Family Name Poitras
The meaning of Poitras
Altered form of French Poidras: from Old French poi dra(p)s ‘few clothes’ i.e. ‘naked’, applied as a mocking nickname. Compare Patro and Poitra. History: Jean Poitras/Poidras from Cugand in Vendée, France, married first Marie-Sainte Vié in Quebec City, QC, in 1664, and second Marie-Anne Lavoie in Quebec City, QC, in 1695. His descendants also bear other altered forms of the surname, such as Poitra and Patro. Some characteristic forenames: French Armand, Gilles, Jacques, Jean-Maurice, Lucien, Andre, Edouard, Emile, Etienne, Euclide, Gaston, Jean Pierre.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Poitras in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Poitras has seen a slight dip between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Poitras was ranked 16,745th most popular, but by 2010, it fell to 17,709th, marking a decrease of 5.76%. Despite the drop in rank, the actual number of individuals bearing the surname increased marginally from 1,571 in 2000 to 1,584 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,745 | #17,709 | -5.76% |
| Count | 1,571 | 1,584 | 0.83% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.58 | 0.54 | -6.9% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Poitras
Regarding ethnicity, Decennial U.S. Census data indicates that the majority of individuals with the surname Poitras identify as White, with proportions of 95.48% in 2000 and 93.88% in 2010. However, there have been notable changes in other ethnic identities. For instance, those identifying as having two or more ethnicities rose significantly from 0.95% in 2000 to 1.70% in 2010. Similarly, the percentage of Poitras identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native increased from 1.72% in 2000 to 2.21% in 2010. The proportion identifying as Hispanic also saw an increase from 1.46% to 1.64% over the same period. No Poitras identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or Black in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.48% | 93.88% | -1.68% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.72% | 2.21% | 28.49% |
| Two or More Races | 0.95% | 1.7% | 78.95% |
| Hispanic | 1.46% | 1.64% | 12.33% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |