Michaud
A French occupational surname referring to a person who sold or produced bread or other baked goods.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 17,309 Americans carry the last name Michaud. That puts it at #2,431 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 5.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 19,802 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Michaud 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
17K
1 in 19,802
Census rank
#2,431
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
5.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
15K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 14,910 bearers of the surname Michaud in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 5.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2431st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Michaud, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.6%. The next largest groups are Black (4.6%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Michaud
The surname Michaud has its origins in France, specifically in the region of Franche-Comté. It emerged during the Middle Ages, likely in the 11th or 12th century. The name is derived from the Old French personal name "Michel," which in turn comes from the Hebrew name "Michael," meaning "who is like God."
The earliest known record of the name Michaud can be found in the Cartulaire de Hugues, a medieval manuscript from the Abbey of Saint-Bénigne in Dijon, dating back to the 12th century. The name is also mentioned in various other historical documents, such as the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Goaille from the 13th century.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Jean Michaud, a Norman knight who participated in the Third Crusade under King Richard the Lionheart in the late 12th century. Another notable figure was Pierre Michaud, a French explorer and fur trader who established trading posts in the Great Lakes region of North America in the late 17th century.
During the Middle Ages, the name Michaud was often associated with places in Franche-Comté, such as Michaud-la-Ville, Michaud-le-Château, and Michaud-sur-Loue. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname.
In the 16th century, a prominent member of the Michaud family was Étienne Michaud, a French philosopher and humanist born in Burgundy around 1520. He was known for his writings on ethics and moral philosophy.
Another significant figure was Joseph-François Michaud, a French historian and author born in 1767. He is best known for his monumental work, the "Histoire des Croisades" (History of the Crusades), published between 1812 and 1822.
In the 19th century, Émile Michaud, a French writer and poet born in 1830, gained recognition for his contributions to the Parnassian literary movement.
Jean-Baptiste Michaud, born in 1786 in Franche-Comté, was a notable French diplomat and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs under King Louis XVIII.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the surname Michaud, illustrating its deep roots and significance within French culture and history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Michaud
Among Census respondents with the surname Michaud, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.6%. The next largest groups are Black (4.6%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Michaud 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 Michaud surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.6%
- Black or African American4.6%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Two or more races1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Michaud 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,303 | #2,431 | -5.6% |
| Count | 14,408 | 14,910 | 3.5% |
| Per 100K | 5.34 | 5.05 | -5.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Michaud bearers went from 14,408 to 14,910 (+3.5% change). The surname moved down 128 positions in the national ranking, going from #2,303 to #2,431.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Michaud
FAQ
Michaud surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Michaud?
The surname Michaud holds position #2,431 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 17,309 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 5.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Michaud surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Michaud, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.6%. The next largest groups are Black (4.6%) and Hispanic (1.9%). 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.