Explore the Family Name Prejean
The meaning of Prejean
1. Breton (Préjean): Frenchified form of Prigent (see Pregent). This surname is very rare in Brittany, while elsewhere in France it is mostly of different origin (see 2 below). In the US, it is found mainly in LA and TX. 2. French (Préjean): topographic name from pré de Jean ‘John’s meadow’. History: The progenitor of the majority of the American Prejeans was Jean Préjean dit Le Breton, who arrived in Acadia after 1671 and married Andrée Marguerite Savoie c.1683. His descendants also bear the surname Lebreton. Some characteristic forenames: French Alcee, Alcide, Ambroise, Dupre, Emile, Fernest, Marcel, Matilde, Monique.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Prejean in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Prejean has seen a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Prejean was ranked 9,337th most popular surname, but dropped to 9,830th by 2010, marking a 5.28% decline. Despite this drop in rank, the total count of individuals with the surname increased from 3,203 to 3,294, representing a growth of 2.84%. The proportion of individuals with this name per 100,000 people also decreased from 1.19 to 1.12 during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #9,337 | #9,830 | -5.28% |
| Count | 3,203 | 3,294 | 2.84% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.19 | 1.12 | -5.88% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Prejean
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname Prejean, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that it is predominantly linked with White and Black ethnicities. Between 2000 and 2010, those identifying as White decreased slightly from 71.71% to 68.55%, while those identifying as Black increased from 25.38% to 27.99%. There was also a small increase in those identifying as Hispanic, from 1.62% to 1.76%. The percentage of individuals identifying with two or more races also grew, increasing from 1.00% to 1.37%. Meanwhile, there were no individuals whose ethnic identity was identified as either Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 71.71% | 68.55% | -4.41% |
| Black | 25.38% | 27.99% | 10.28% |
| Hispanic | 1.62% | 1.76% | 8.64% |
| Two or More Races | 1% | 1.37% | 37% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |