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

Bleau, 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 Bleau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bleau in America

Bleau is the 20309th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bleau surname appeared 1,309 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 Bleau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bleau 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 Bleau

The surname Bleau has its origins in France, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "bleu," meaning "blue," which was likely used as a descriptive nickname for someone with blue eyes or who frequently wore blue clothing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Josaphat, a 13th-century manuscript that mentions a certain "Jehan Bleau" in the year 1247. This document provides valuable insight into the name's usage during the medieval period.

The name Bleau also has connections to various place names in France. For example, the village of Bleau in the department of Seine-et-Marne was once known as "Blauium" in Latin records, suggesting a possible link between the surname and this location.

In the 15th century, records show a knight named Jean Bleau who served under King Charles VII during the Hundred Years' War. This historical figure demonstrates the surname's presence among the French nobility during that era.

Another notable bearer of the name was Pierre Bleau, a 16th-century French cartographer and engraver born in 1610. He is best known for his highly detailed maps of European countries, which were widely circulated and appreciated for their accuracy.

During the 17th century, the surname Bleau gained recognition through the work of Jean Bleau, a renowned French printer and bookseller born in 1645. He was responsible for publishing numerous works on various subjects, including literature, history, and geography.

In the 18th century, a French explorer named Jacques Bleau embarked on several expeditions to the New World, contributing to the expansion of French colonial territories. He was born in 1712 and documented his travels extensively, providing valuable insights into the cultures and landscapes he encountered.

Another notable figure was the 19th-century French painter Louis Bleau, born in 1821. His landscapes and portraiture works were widely acclaimed, and several of his paintings can be found in prestigious art museums across Europe.

Throughout its history, the surname Bleau has been present in various regions of France, with concentrations in areas such as Île-de-France, Normandy, and Brittany. Its enduring presence in French genealogical records serves as a testament to its longstanding roots in the country's cultural tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bleau

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

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

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

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