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

Decoteau, 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 Decoteau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Decoteau in America

Decoteau is the 13786th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Decoteau surname appeared 2,194 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Decoteau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Decoteau 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 Decoteau

The surname DECOTEAU has its origins in France, specifically in the northern regions near the border with Belgium. It is believed to have emerged sometime during the Middle Ages, possibly as early as the 11th or 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old French word "coteur," which referred to a maker or seller of coats or cloaks.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in a document from the year 1292, which mentions a Pierre Decoteau, a merchant from the town of Arras. This suggests that the name was already well-established in that region by the late 13th century.

The name DECOTEAU is often associated with certain place names in northern France, such as Coteau and Coteaux, which share the same root word. This further reinforces the connection between the surname and the occupation of making or selling outerwear.

In the 14th century, records show a Jean Decoteau who was a tailor in the city of Lille. This provides additional evidence of the name's ties to the clothing trade during that time period.

One notable figure in history bearing the name DECOTEAU was François Decoteau, a French soldier who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1780 and died in 1854. Another individual of note was Marie Decoteau, a prominent lawyer and activist who lived in the late 19th century and fought for women's rights.

In the realm of literature, the name appears in the works of Victor Hugo, who included a character named Decoteau in his novel "Les Misérables." This further solidifies the name's French heritage and its presence in French culture.

Other individuals with the surname DECOTEAU who left their mark on history include Pierre Decoteau, a renowned painter from the 18th century, and Antoine Decoteau, a French explorer who was among the first Europeans to venture into the American West in the early 19th century.

While the name DECOTEAU has its roots in northern France, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and immigration. However, its origins and historical significance remain firmly tied to the French culture and the clothing trade of centuries past.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Decoteau

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!