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

Bureau, 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 Bureau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bureau in America

Bureau is the 28909th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bureau surname appeared 822 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 Bureau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bureau 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 Bureau

The surname Bureau originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "burel," which referred to a coarse woolen cloth. This cloth was often used for making clothes and covering tables, which may have given rise to the name being associated with those who worked with or sold this material.

One of the earliest records of the surname Bureau can be found in the Livre des Métiers, a 13th-century document that listed various professions and trades in Paris. It mentions individuals with the name Bureau who were involved in the textile industry.

In the 14th century, there are records of a Jean Bureau who was a wealthy merchant and landowner in the Burgundy region of France. His family's influence and wealth likely contributed to the spread and recognition of the surname in the area.

The Bureau name also appears in historical documents related to the Hundred Years' War between England and France. In 1420, a Jacques Bureau is mentioned as a knight who fought alongside the French forces against the English.

During the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Bureau was Jean Bureau, a French philosopher and mathematician who lived from 1515 to 1594. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and served as a tutor to King Henry III of France.

Another famous bearer of the name was Jacques Bureau (1592-1661), a French lawyer and statesman who played a crucial role in negotiating the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years' War in 1648.

In the 18th century, Jean-Baptiste Bureau (1734-1794) was a French architect and urban planner known for his work on the reconstruction of Paris. He designed several notable buildings, including the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin.

The surname Bureau has also been associated with various place names in France, such as Bureau-le-Vieux and Bureau-le-Sec, which may have influenced the spread and variations of the name over time.

Overall, the surname Bureau has a rich history rooted in the textile industry and trade in medieval France. It has been borne by notable figures in various fields, including philosophy, law, architecture, and military service, contributing to its enduring legacy and recognition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bureau

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

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

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

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