Gaudreault
A French surname derived from a diminutive form of the name Gaudry, meaning "rejoicing".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 377 Americans carry the last name Gaudreault. That puts it at #62,359 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 909,163 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gaudreault 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
377
1 in 909,163
Census rank
#62,359
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
321
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 321 bearers of the surname Gaudreault in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 62359th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gaudreault, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.9%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gaudreault
The surname Gaudreault originates from France and is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "gaudre," which means "to rejoice" or "to enjoy," combined with the diminutive suffix "-eault." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname given to someone with a cheerful or joyous demeanor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gaudreault can be found in the town of Moulins, in the Bourbonnais region of central France. In the 14th century, a man named Jehan Gaudreault was mentioned in local records as a resident of the town.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Gaudreault name began to appear in various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France region surrounding Paris. It is possible that the name spread through the migration of families or individuals seeking new opportunities.
In the late 17th century, a Frenchman named Pierre Gaudreault (born around 1670) was among the early settlers who established the colony of Nouvelle-France, which later became part of the province of Quebec, Canada. Pierre Gaudreault's descendants contributed to the growth of the Gaudreault family in North America.
Another notable figure with the Gaudreault surname was Jean-Baptiste Gaudreault (1807-1884), a French-Canadian farmer and politician from Quebec. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from 1854 to 1857.
In the 19th century, the Gaudreault name could also be found in other parts of the world, such as the United States. For example, Joseph Gaudreault (1825-1892), born in Quebec, was a businessman and farmer who settled in Minnesota in the mid-1800s.
Another prominent individual with the Gaudreault surname was Marie-Jeanne Gaudreault (1911-1988), a French-Canadian writer and journalist from Quebec. She published several novels and collections of short stories that explored the lives and experiences of rural communities in Quebec.
While the Gaudreault name has evolved over time, its roots can be traced back to medieval France, where it likely originated as a nickname reflecting the cheerful or joyous nature of an individual or family.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gaudreault
Among Census respondents with the surname Gaudreault, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.9%.
The bar chart below shows how Gaudreault 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 Gaudreault surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Gaudreault 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #62,359 | #62,359 | 0.0% |
| Count | 321 | 321 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Gaudreault bearers went from 321 to 321 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #62,359 to #62,359.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Gaudreault
FAQ
Gaudreault surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Gaudreault?
The surname Gaudreault holds position #62,359 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 377 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Gaudreault surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gaudreault, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.9%. 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.