Explore the Family Name St. Germain
The meaning of St. Germain
1. French (mainly Landes; Saint-Germain) and Haitian (also Saint-Germain): habitational name from any of several places in various parts of France named Saint-Germain (from the dedication of their churches to Saint Germain), or a nickname with the prefix Saint as an (ironic) attachment to the personal name or surname Germain. 2. Haitian (also Saint-Germain): from Saint-Germain, a nickname, ornamental name, or personal name composed of the French prefix Saint and the personal name Germain, or perhaps a habitational name from a place in Haiti called Saint-Germain (compare 1 above). Compare Saintgermain. History: In North America, the surname in 1 above was originally also a secondary surname or dit (‘also called’) name, borne by several 17th- and 18th-century French Canadians, including Germain Gauthier dit Saint-Germain from Beaubec-la-Rosière in Seine-Maritime, France, who married Jeanne Beauchamp in Pointe-aux-Trembles, QC, in 1677. His descendants also bear the surname Gauthier. Some characteristic forenames: French Andre, Armand, Normand, Pierre, Adelard, Amie, Emile, Fernand, Lucien, Marcel, Michel, Monique.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name St. Germain in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "St. Germain" slightly decreased in rank from 7,473 in 2000 to 7,652 in 2010, marking a 2.4% drop. However, the actual count of people with this last name increased by 5.65% over the same period, from 4,109 to 4,341. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw a small decrease of 3.29%, falling from 1.52 in 2000 to 1.47 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,473 | #7,652 | -2.4% |
| Count | 4,109 | 4,341 | 5.65% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.52 | 1.47 | -3.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name St. Germain
The ethnic identity associated with the surname "St. Germain" underwent some changes between 2000 and 2010 as well, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. While the majority of individuals with this surname identified as White (90.00% in 2000 down to 85.95% in 2010), there was a significant increase in the number of individuals identifying as Black, rising from 4.04% to 7.46%. The proportion of individuals identifying as Hispanic also rose from 1.41% to 1.98%. Meanwhile, individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native saw an increase of 21.25% and 3.92% respectively. The category of "Two or more races" saw a slight decrease, from 2.21% to 2.05% during this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 90% | 85.95% | -4.5% |
| Black | 4.04% | 7.46% | 84.65% |
| Two or More Races | 2.21% | 2.05% | -7.24% |
| Hispanic | 1.41% | 1.98% | 40.43% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.53% | 1.59% | 3.92% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.8% | 0.97% | 21.25% |