2000
#13,434
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,078
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.77
Rare Last name
Bonneau
A French topographic surname for someone living near a small stream, derived from Old French "bon" meaning "good" and "eau" meaning "water."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,308 Americans carry the last name Bonneau. That puts it at #14,300 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.67 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 148,507 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bonneau surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
2.3K
1 in 148,507
Census rank
#14,300
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,013 bearers of the surname Bonneau in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.67 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14300th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bonneau, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.9%. The next largest groups are Black (11.4%) and Hispanic (5.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bonneau
The surname Bonneau originates from France, with its roots tracing back to the early Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old French word "bon," meaning "good," and is believed to have been initially used as a nickname for someone with a kind or virtuous nature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bonneau can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical document mentions a landowner named Radulfus Bonellus, which is a Latin variant of the name Bonneau.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, the surname Bonneau became more widespread across various regions of France, particularly in the northern and central areas. Several variations of the spelling emerged, including Boneau, Bonau, and Bonnau, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.
One notable individual bearing the Bonneau surname was Jacques Bonneau, a 16th-century French scholar and theologian (born c. 1530, died c. 1593). He was known for his contributions to the field of biblical exegesis and his writings on religious topics.
In the 17th century, the Bonneau family established itself in the province of Normandy, where they held lands and estates. Pierre Bonneau (1637-1703), a prominent member of the family, served as a magistrate and was recognized for his legal expertise.
Another significant figure with the surname Bonneau was François Bonneau (1756-1830), a French politician and revolutionary who played an active role during the French Revolution. He served as a member of the National Convention and later became a member of the Council of Five Hundred.
The 19th century saw the rise of several artists and writers bearing the Bonneau name. Émile Bonneau (1825-1888) was a French landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes, while Alcide Bonneau (1835-1918) was a renowned poet and literary critic who contributed to the Parnassian movement.
As the surname Bonneau spread across Europe and later to other parts of the world through migration and exploration, it continued to be associated with various professions and achievements. From academics and professionals to artists and politicians, the name has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscapes of multiple nations.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bonneau
Among Census respondents with the surname Bonneau, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.9%. The next largest groups are Black (11.4%) and Hispanic (5.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Bonneau bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Bonneau surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White77.9% · 1,568
- Black or African American11.4% · 229
- Hispanic or Latino5.6% · 113
- Two or more races3.6% · 73
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 18
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 12
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bonneau
Bonneau appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#14,030
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,147
+69 bearers (+3.3%)
Per 100,000 0.73
Rank movement Down 596 places
2020
#14,300
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,013
-134 bearers (-6.2%)
Per 100,000 0.67
Rank movement Down 270 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #13,434 | 2,078 | 0.77 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #14,030 | 2,147 | 0.73 | +69 bearers (+3.3%) | Down 596 places |
| 2020 | #14,300 | 2,013 | 0.67 | -134 bearers (-6.2%) | Down 270 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Bonneau surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,030 | #14,300 | -1.9% |
| Count | 2,147 | 2,013 | -6.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.73 | 0.67 | -7.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bonneau bearers went from 2,147 to 2,013 (-6.2% change). The surname moved down 270 positions in the national ranking, going from #14,030 to #14,300.
FAQ
Bonneau surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bonneau?
Name Census estimates that about 2,308 living Americans carry the surname Bonneau. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 148,507 residents.
How common is Bonneau?
Bonneau ranks #14,300 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.67 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,013 people with the surname Bonneau. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,308), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.67 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.67 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Bonneau.
Has Bonneau become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bonneau went from 2,147 recorded bearers to 2,013. That is a decrease of 134 (-6.2%). In the national ranking it fell from #14,030 to #14,300.
What does the Census say about the background of Bonneau?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bonneau, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.9%. The next largest groups are Black (11.4%) and Hispanic (5.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Bonneau in the 2020 Census, accounting for 77.9% (1,568 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bonneau appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (77.9%), Black (11.4%), Hispanic (5.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Bonneau (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Bonneau mean?
A French topographic surname for someone living near a small stream, derived from Old French "bon" meaning "good" and "eau" meaning "water." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Bonneau (0.67 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Bonneau?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.