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

Camou, 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 Camou surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Camou in America

Camou is the 49636th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Camou surname appeared 423 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 Camou.

We can also compare 2010 data for Camou 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 Camou

The surname "CAMOU" originates from the Basque region of northern Spain and southern France, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Basque word "kamou," meaning "bend" or "curve," potentially referring to a geographic feature or location where the early bearers of the name resided.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "CAMOU" can be found in the archives of the Labourd region of the French Basque Country. A document from 1287 mentions a certain "Petri de Camou," suggesting the name's presence in the area during the late 13th century.

In the 15th century, records from the town of Sara in the Basque region of France reference a "Jean de Camou," who was a local landowner and respected figure in the community. This serves as evidence of the name's continued use and prominence in the region.

The Basque region has a rich history and cultural heritage, and the name "CAMOU" is deeply rooted in this context. Many Basque surnames, including "CAMOU," were often associated with place names or geographic features, reflecting the strong connection between the people and their land.

One notable person bearing the surname "CAMOU" was Jean-Baptiste Camou (1668-1737), a French architect and military engineer who contributed to the fortification of several cities in France, including Bordeaux and Bayonne. His work played a significant role in the development of military architecture during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Another historically significant individual with the surname "CAMOU" was Pierre Camou (1732-1806), a French naval officer and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the Pacific Ocean. He was involved in the exploration and mapping of islands in the South Pacific, contributing to the expansion of geographic knowledge during the Age of Exploration.

In the 19th century, the name "CAMOU" was also found in the United States, likely carried by Basque immigrants. One example is Jean-Baptiste Camou (1801-1878), a Basque-American shepherd and rancher who settled in California and played a role in the development of the sheep industry in the region.

Furthermore, the surname "CAMOU" appears in historical records from Spain, particularly in the Basque provinces. One notable figure was Juan Camou (1865-1935), a Spanish politician and lawyer who served as a representative in the Spanish parliament (Cortes Generales) during the early 20th century.

It is worth noting that the name "CAMOU" has undergone various spelling variations over time, such as "Camou," "Camous," and "Camoux," reflecting the linguistic and cultural diversity of the regions where it was prevalent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Camou

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

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

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

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