Brodeur
A French occupational surname referring to an embroiderer or someone who adorns fabric with needlework.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,696 Americans carry the last name Brodeur. That puts it at #8,178 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.37 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 72,989 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brodeur 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
4.7K
1 in 72,989
Census rank
#8,178
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,053 bearers of the surname Brodeur in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.37 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 8178th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brodeur, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Brodeur
The surname BRODEUR has its origins in France, specifically in the northern region of Normandy. It is believed to have originated in the late Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "brodeur," meaning "embroiderer" or "embroiderer of fabrics."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BRODEUR can be found in the ancient tax records of Normandy, known as the "Rôles de la Taille." These records date back to the 14th century and mention several individuals with the surname, suggesting that it was already well-established in the region at that time.
The name BRODEUR is thought to have initially referred to individuals who worked as professional embroiderers, a respected and skilled craft during the Middle Ages. As the surname spread across France, it is likely that some bearers of the name were not necessarily embroiderers themselves but were descendants of those who practiced the trade.
In the 16th century, the surname BRODEUR appeared in the records of the city of Rouen, a major center of textile production and trade in Normandy. Several BRODEUR families were documented as residents of the city during this period, indicating that the name had become well-established in the region.
One notable figure with the surname BRODEUR was Jean-Baptiste Brodeur (1668-1737), a French-Canadian colonist and fur trader. He was born in Normandy and emigrated to New France (present-day Quebec) in the late 17th century, where he became a prominent member of the community.
Another individual of note was François Brodeur (1673-1741), a French-Canadian farmer and landowner who settled in the Quebec region. His descendants went on to establish several influential families in the area, contributing to the spread of the surname in North America.
In the 19th century, Pierre Brodeur (1801-1879) was a prominent Quebec politician and lawyer. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada and played a significant role in the political and legal affairs of the region during his lifetime.
Martin Brodeur (born 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over two decades. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.
Céline Brodeur (born 1971) is a Canadian actress and filmmaker. She has received critical acclaim for her work in both English and French-language productions, including her role in the 2006 film "Silk."
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brodeur
Among Census respondents with the surname Brodeur, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Brodeur 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 Brodeur surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.1%
- Two or more races1.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
- Black or African American0.1%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Brodeur 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,854 | #8,178 | -4.1% |
| Count | 3,910 | 4,053 | 3.7% |
| Per 100K | 1.45 | 1.37 | -5.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Brodeur bearers went from 3,910 to 4,053 (+3.7% change). The surname moved down 324 positions in the national ranking, going from #7,854 to #8,178.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Brodeur
FAQ
Brodeur surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Brodeur?
The surname Brodeur holds position #8,178 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 4,696 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.37 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Brodeur surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brodeur, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.9%). 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.