Beliveau
A French surname deriving from the Occitan words "bèl" (beautiful) and "vèdre" (view or vantage point).
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,988 Americans carry the last name Beliveau. That puts it at #16,644 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.58 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 172,412 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Beliveau surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.0K
1 in 172,412
Census rank
#16,644
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,721 bearers of the surname Beliveau in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.58 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 16644th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Beliveau, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Beliveau
The surname BELIVEAU originates from France and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the French words "bel" meaning "beautiful" and "lieu" meaning "place" or "spot." The earliest recorded examples of this surname can be traced back to the 12th century in the northern regions of France, particularly in the provinces of Normandy and Picardy.
During the Middle Ages, the name BELIVEAU was often used to refer to a person living in a picturesque or scenic location. It is believed that the name was originally bestowed upon individuals who resided in areas of outstanding natural beauty, such as valleys, meadows, or near rivers or forests.
In the 13th century, the name BELIVEAU appeared in various legal documents and records, including land deeds and tax rolls. For instance, a certain Robert BELIVEAU was mentioned in the Chartulary of Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives Abbey in Normandy in 1247.
Notable individuals bearing the surname BELIVEAU throughout history include:
1. Jean BELIVEAU (1495-1572), a French diplomat and ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire during the reign of King Francis I.
2. Marie BELIVEAU (1601-1678), a prominent figure in the early settlement of New France (present-day Quebec, Canada). She was one of the first European women to arrive in the colony in 1634.
3. Pierre BELIVEAU (1638-1708), a French-Canadian farmer and landowner who established one of the first settlements in the Beauce region of Quebec.
4. Jacques BELIVEAU (1751-1825), a French-Canadian politician and military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada.
5. Jean BELIVEAU (1931-2014), a legendary Canadian professional ice hockey player who spent his entire career with the Montreal Canadiens. He is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.
Throughout its history, the surname BELIVEAU has been subject to various spelling variations, including Belliveau, Bellivau, and Belleveau, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic influences of different areas of France and later, French Canada.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Beliveau
Among Census respondents with the surname Beliveau, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Beliveau bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Beliveau surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.5%
- Two or more races2.0%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Beliveau surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,644 | #16,644 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,721 | 1,721 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.58 | 0.58 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Beliveau bearers went from 1,721 to 1,721 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #16,644 to #16,644.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Beliveau
FAQ
Beliveau surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Beliveau?
The surname Beliveau holds position #16,644 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,988 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.58 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Beliveau surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Beliveau, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and Hispanic (1.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.