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

Charbonneau, 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 Charbonneau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Charbonneau in America

Charbonneau is the 7230th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Charbonneau surname appeared 4,617 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Charbonneau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Charbonneau 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 Charbonneau

The surname CHARBONNEAU originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French words "charbonnier" and "charbonnier," which refer to a charcoal burner or charcoal maker. This occupation-based surname was likely adopted by individuals or families involved in the production of charcoal, a valuable fuel source at the time.

The earliest recorded instances of the CHARBONNEAU surname can be found in historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries in various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and the Loire Valley. These regions were known for their extensive forests, which provided ample resources for charcoal production.

One of the earliest known bearers of the CHARBONNEAU surname was Jean Charbonneau, a charcoal maker from the village of Sainte-Marie-Outre-l'Eau in Normandy, who was mentioned in a parish record dated 1327. Another notable figure was Pierre Charbonneau, a merchant and landowner from the town of Angers in the Loire Valley, whose name appeared in a land registry from 1468.

In the 16th century, the CHARBONNEAU surname gained prominence with the rise of François Charbonneau (1520-1589), a renowned architect and master builder from Paris. He was responsible for the construction of several notable buildings, including the Château de Chambord, and is considered one of the pioneers of the French Renaissance architectural style.

The CHARBONNEAU surname also has a connection to the exploration and settlement of New France (present-day Canada) in the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the earliest settlers bearing this name was Jacques Charbonneau (1648-1721), who arrived in Quebec in 1669 and became a prominent farmer and landowner in the region of Beaupré.

Another notable figure was Marie-Anne Charbonneau (1701-1768), a renowned midwife and herbalist from Montreal, who played a significant role in the development of early healthcare practices in New France. Her expertise and dedication earned her the nickname "La Sage-Femme du Roi" (The King's Midwife).

Throughout history, the CHARBONNEAU surname has been associated with various professions beyond charcoal making, including artisans, traders, farmers, and professionals. It has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including Louis-Joseph Charbonneau (1811-1877), a Quebec politician and lawyer, and Georges Charbonneau (1925-2008), a French-Canadian painter and sculptor renowned for his abstract works.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Charbonneau

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

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

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

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