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

Bedeau, 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 Bedeau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bedeau in America

Bedeau is the 85049th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bedeau surname appeared 220 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 Bedeau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bedeau to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bedeau

The surname Bedeau is of French origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the region of Normandy, France. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "bedeau," which referred to a church bailiff or a minor church official.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bedeau can be found in the "Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de la Sainte-Trinité de Caen," a medieval manuscript dating back to the 12th century. This document mentions a certain "Robertus Bedeau," who was likely a church official associated with the abbey.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records from the Normandy region, such as the "Rôles Normands" and the "Trésor des Chartes de Normandie." These records suggest that the Bedeau family held land and properties in the area, indicating their status as minor nobility or landed gentry.

During the 14th century, the name Bedeau gained prominence in the city of Rouen, where several individuals bearing this surname were mentioned in the municipal records. One notable figure was Jean Bedeau, a merchant and alderman who lived in Rouen around 1380.

In the 16th century, the Bedeau family spread beyond Normandy, with members appearing in records from other regions of France. One prominent individual was Nicolas Bedeau, a lawyer and judge who served in the Parlement de Paris during the reign of King Henry IV (1553-1610).

Throughout the centuries, the surname Bedeau has been associated with several notable figures, including:

1. Jacques Bedeau (1751-1834), a French military officer who served during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.
2. Marie-Alphonse Bedeau (1804-1863), a French general who participated in the Crimean War and the Second Italian War of Independence.
3. Émile Bedeau (1838-1917), a French lawyer and politician who served as a member of the National Assembly.
4. Fernand Bedeau (1886-1958), a French journalist and writer known for his works on Normandy and its history.
5. Gérard Bedeau (born 1935), a French actor and filmmaker who has appeared in numerous films and television series.

While the name Bedeau has undergone some variations in spelling over the centuries, such as Bedau, Bedault, and Bedeaux, it has maintained its distinct French roots and connection to the ecclesiastical and administrative roles held by its early bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bedeau

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

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 Bedeau 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bedeau has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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

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

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