Lenoir
A French surname meaning “the black one,” from the old descriptive nickname Le Noir.
The #9,222 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 87,364 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Lenoir comes from French le noir, literally “the black,” used as a nickname for someone with dark hair, complexion, or clothing. In surname form, the article and adjective fused into a single inherited family name. The underlying element noir is the French word for “black.”
History
This is a classic French surname type and appears in French records in many spellings, especially with the old article le attached. In English-speaking countries it often remained recognizably French, though some branches may have simplified or altered the spelling over time. The name is well established in North America through French and French-Canadian families.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
French surnames built from color nicknames are very common; Lenoir is the exact counterpart of English surnames like Black.
From the historical record
“1743. Married — John Harl^ and Magdalen Lenoir : St. Mary Alderroar>', London, 17; Philadelphia, 57. Harling. — Bapt. *the son of Harlwin,' modified to Harling, with”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (alternate scan)