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

Laveau, 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 Laveau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Laveau in America

Laveau is the 101247th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Laveau surname appeared 178 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 Laveau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Laveau 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 Laveau

The surname LAVEAU is of French origin, originating in the 18th century in the region of Louisiana, United States. It is believed to be derived from the French phrase "la veau," meaning "the calf," suggesting a possible connection to an occupation or location related to cattle farming or breeding.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LAVEAU can be found in the Louisiana census records of the late 1700s, where several individuals bearing this surname were listed as residents of the French colony. It is likely that the name was brought to the region by French settlers during the colonial era.

During the 19th century, the LAVEAU name gained prominence in New Orleans, particularly through the legendary Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau (c. 1801-1881). Known as the "Voodoo Queen of New Orleans," Marie Laveau played a significant role in the cultural and spiritual life of the city, practicing and promoting Voodoo rituals and ceremonies. Her influence and reputation as a powerful Voodoo practitioner contributed to the notoriety of the LAVEAU name.

Another notable figure with the LAVEAU surname was Jacques Philippe Laveau (1701-1784), a French colonist and landowner in Louisiana. He was among the early settlers who helped establish the French presence in the region and contributed to the development of the colony's economy and infrastructure.

In the 20th century, the LAVEAU name continued to be associated with the state of Louisiana, with several individuals bearing this surname making notable contributions in various fields. One such individual was Henri Laveau (1920-1998), a prominent jazz musician and saxophonist who was born and raised in New Orleans, contributing to the city's rich musical heritage.

It is worth mentioning that the LAVEAU name has also been found in other French-speaking regions, such as Canada and parts of the Caribbean, likely due to the migration of French settlers and their descendants over the centuries. However, its most significant historical associations remain rooted in the culture and history of Louisiana, particularly in relation to Voodoo practices and the vibrant cultural tapestry of New Orleans.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Laveau

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

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

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

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