Explore the Family Name Prudent
The meaning of Prudent
1. French: from the personal name Prudent, from Latin Prudentius, derived from prudens ‘knowing, skilled, experienced’. 2. West Indian (mainly Haiti): from the French personal name Prudent (see 1 above), or a nickname or ornamental name from French prudent ‘careful, wise’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Prudent in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Prudent has seen a notable rise in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 58,130 most popular, but by 2010 it had risen to become the 51,066th most popular surname, signifying a change of 12.15 percent. Furthermore, the count of people bearing the surname also increased from 327 in 2000 to 408 in 2010 - a significant increase of 24.77 percent. The proportion of people with the surname per 100k also saw an increase of 16.67 percent during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #58,130 | #51,066 | 12.15% |
| Count | 327 | 408 | 24.77% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.12 | 0.14 | 16.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Prudent
Regarding ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the Prudent surname is most commonly associated with the Black ethnic identity, which saw a 13.03 percent increase from 59.63 percent in 2000 to 67.40 percent in 2010. The surname also saw an increase among those identifying as Hispanic, with an 87.43 percent increase from 1.83 percent to 3.43 percent. However, it's worth noting a decrease in those identifying as White and those belonging to two or more races. The percentage of holders of the surname who identified as White decreased by 8.41 percent, while those identifying as two or more races saw a substantial decrease of 66.58 percent. The number of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander appeared to be minimal but showed an increase from 0 to 1.96 percent. No Prudent surname holders identified as American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 59.63% | 67.4% | 13.03% |
| White | 25.69% | 23.53% | -8.41% |
| Two or More Races | 11.01% | 3.68% | -66.58% |
| Hispanic | 1.83% | 3.43% | 87.43% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.96% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |