Find out how popular the last name Abreau is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Abreau.

Abreau, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Abreau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Abreau in America

Abreau is the 131379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Abreau surname appeared 129 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Abreau.

The history of the last name Abreau

The surname Abreau has its origins in Portugal, dating back to the late 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Portuguese word "breu," which means tar or pitch. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked with tar or pitch, such as a shipbuilder or roofer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Abreau can be found in the Iberian Peninsula, where it was commonly used in regions like Porto and Lisbon. During the Age of Discovery, many Portuguese explorers and sailors bearing the name Abreau were involved in voyages to the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Abreau appeared in various historical documents and manuscripts, including records of Portuguese settlements in Brazil and the Cape Verde Islands. Some notable individuals with this surname during this time period include Diogo de Abreau, a Portuguese navigator and explorer who is credited with discovering the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean in the early 16th century.

As the Portuguese Empire expanded, the name Abreau spread to other parts of the world, including the Azores Islands and Madeira. In the 18th century, João Rodrigues de Abreau, a Portuguese architect, designed several important buildings in Lisbon, including the Basilica da Estrela.

Another prominent figure with the surname Abreau was José de Abreau, a Portuguese military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars. He played a significant role in the defense of Portugal against French forces in the early 19th century.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several individuals with the surname Abreau made notable contributions in various fields. For example, Joaquim de Abreau was a renowned Brazilian painter and sculptor, known for his works depicting scenes from Brazilian history and culture.

While the surname Abreau has its roots in Portugal, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including Spain, Brazil, and various countries in Africa and Asia. Today, it remains a prominent surname, particularly in Portuguese-speaking communities, and continues to hold cultural and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Abreau

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Abreau.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Abreau was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Abreau was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Abreau, please contact us.

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