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

Bayou, 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 Bayou surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bayou in America

Bayou is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bayou surname appeared 113 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 Bayou.

The history of the last name Bayou

The surname "BAYOU" is believed to have originated in the French language, with roots tracing back to the 14th century. It is derived from the word "bayuc," which referred to a small stream or inlet in the southern regions of France. This name was commonly found in areas like Provence and Languedoc, where many waterways and marshlands existed.

One of the earliest known recorded instances of the name "BAYOU" can be found in the medieval French text "Le Roman de la Rose," written by Guillaume de Lorris in the 13th century. In this work, a character named "Jehan Bayou" is mentioned, suggesting the surname's existence during that era.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, as French settlers began to explore and colonize parts of North America, the name "BAYOU" was carried over to the new territories. It became particularly prevalent in the regions around the Mississippi River Delta and Louisiana, where the term "bayou" was used to describe the numerous slow-moving waterways and wetlands.

In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the surname "BAYOU" was Pierre Bayou, a French explorer and cartographer who mapped a significant portion of the Louisiana Territory in the 1720s. His detailed maps and accounts of the region's geography played a crucial role in the early development of the area.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Marie Bayou, a French-Canadian woman born in 1785 in Quebec. She was known for her involvement in the fur trade and her significant contributions to the exploration of the Canadian wilderness during the early 19th century.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the works of the French author and poet, Jean-Baptiste Bayou (1787-1852). His poetic works, which often celebrated the natural beauty of the French countryside and its waterways, earned him widespread acclaim during his lifetime.

The name "BAYOU" has also been associated with various place names throughout the years. For instance, the town of Bayou Cane in Louisiana, founded in the late 18th century, bears a striking resemblance to the surname's original meaning, referencing the cane-lined waterways that once traversed the area.

It is worth noting that while the surname "BAYOU" has its roots in France and has been prominently featured in various historical contexts, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange, further enriching its historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bayou

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

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 Bayou 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 Bayou was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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