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

Goodreau, 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 Goodreau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goodreau in America

Goodreau is the 27260th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goodreau surname appeared 887 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 Goodreau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Goodreau 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 Goodreau

The surname Goodreau has its origins in France, specifically in the northern region of Normandy. It is believed to have emerged during the late 11th or early 12th century, following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The name is derived from the Old French words "bon" (good) and "ruisseau" (stream or brook), suggesting a connection to a person residing near a pleasant waterway.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, dated 1195, where a certain Roger de Bonruissell is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during that era. In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Bonrusell, Bonrussel, and Bonruissel, reflecting the linguistic transition from Old French to Middle English.

The Goodreau surname gained prominence in the region of Normandy, where it was associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Gilles Goodreau, a prominent landowner and military commander who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. His descendants continued to play influential roles in the region for several generations.

Another notable bearer of the name was Jean Goodreau (1420-1489), a French scholar and theologian who served as the rector of the University of Paris in the late 15th century. His contributions to the intellectual and religious discourse of the time were widely recognized.

In the realm of art, the name is associated with the French painter and engraver, Pierre Goodreau (1623-1697), whose works were celebrated for their intricate attention to detail and mastery of light and shadow. His paintings can be found in various museums across Europe.

The Goodreau surname also made its way to other parts of Europe, including England and Scotland, where variations such as Goodrow and Goodroe emerged. One notable figure was Sir Thomas Goodreau (1585-1657), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I.

In the New World, the Goodreau name was carried by French settlers who ventured to the North American colonies, particularly in the regions of Acadia (present-day Maritime provinces of Canada) and Louisiana. Among the early arrivals was Jacques Goodreau (1670-1732), a fur trader and explorer who established trading posts along the Mississippi River and played a significant role in the development of the French colonial settlements in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goodreau

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

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

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

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