Explore the Family Name Theard
The meaning of Theard
French (northwestern; Théard): from a personal name composed of the ancient Germanic elements theudo- ‘people, nation’ + hard ‘hardy, brave, strong’. This surname is also found in Haiti. In the US, it is found mainly in LA. History: It was René Nicolas Théard from Vitré in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany (France), who brought this surname to LA. As a royalist he had to flee from France when the French Revolution (1789–99) broke out. He first stopped in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti), where he married Marie Rose Robert and soon moved to LA. In 1818, a few years after the Bourbons returned to power, he returned to France and remained there for the rest of his life, while his eldest sons stayed in LA. Some characteristic forenames: French Emile, Jacques, Antoine, Geralde, Maxime, Olivier, Theophile.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Theard in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Theard has seen an increase in popularity. In 2000, it was ranked 44,895 and by 2010 it had risen to 40,976 – a change of 8.73 percent. Similarly, the count of individuals with this surname grew from 450 in 2000 to 532 in 2010, marking an 18.22 percent rise. This overall increase is further reflected in the proportion per 100k figure, which went up by 5.88 percent during the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #44,895 | #40,976 | 8.73% |
| Count | 450 | 532 | 18.22% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.18 | 5.88% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Theard
The ethnicity distribution for the surname Theard, as per the Decennial U.S. Census, shows a variety of ethnic identities associated with this name. There were no individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in both 2000 and 2010. Those identifying as Black remained the highest proportion, with a slight uptick of 0.08 percent to reach 63.16 percent in 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as White decreased by 8.31 percent to 26.69 percent in 2010. Individuals holding the Theard surname and identifying with two or more races saw a small growth of 9.38 percent. However, the most significant change was observed in those identifying as Hispanic, soaring by an impressive 86.49 percent over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 63.11% | 63.16% | 0.08% |
| White | 29.11% | 26.69% | -8.31% |
| Two or More Races | 5.33% | 5.83% | 9.38% |
| Hispanic | 2.22% | 4.14% | 86.49% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |