Explore the Family Name Polite
The meaning of Polite
French: from a short form of the personal name Hypolite. This surname is very rare in France. In North America, it (also) originated from a transferred use of a shortened form of the French personal (given) name Hypolite as a surname (i.e. as a replacement of the original surname). In the US, it is most common in SC and GA, where it is found mainly among African Americans. Compare Politte. History: It was Hypolite Paul Robert, born in the middle of the 18th century in IL, died in MO in 1813, a descendant of Louis Robert dit Lafontaine from France (see Robert), whose descendants adopted the surname Polit(t)e.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Polite in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Polite has gained in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Polite was ranked as the 8,624th most common surname, but by 2010 it had risen to the 8,067th position, marking a 6.46% increase in rank. The census data also showed that the number of individuals with this surname grew by 17%, from 3,511 in 2000 to 4,108 in 2010. This increase is reflected in the proportion per 100k people, which rose by 6.92% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,624 | #8,067 | 6.46% |
| Count | 3,511 | 4,108 | 17% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.3 | 1.39 | 6.92% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Polite
The Decennial U.S. Census also provides information on the ethnic identity of those bearing the surname Polite. In 2000, the majority of those with this surname identified as Black (83.88%), but this figure decreased slightly to 78.12% by 2010. Over the same period, the percentage identifying as White, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian and Alaskan Native all increased, with the biggest percentage growth seen among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander (100% increase) and American Indian and Alaskan Native (86.67% increase). There was also a notable rise in the number of people identifying with two or more races, increasing by 30.65%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 83.88% | 78.12% | -6.87% |
| White | 11.42% | 14.68% | 28.55% |
| Two or More Races | 2.48% | 3.24% | 30.65% |
| Hispanic | 1.34% | 2.29% | 70.9% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.6% | 1.12% | 86.67% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.28% | 0.56% | 100% |