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

Nicoleau, 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 Nicoleau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nicoleau in America

Nicoleau is the 122314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nicoleau surname appeared 141 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 Nicoleau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nicoleau 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 Nicoleau

The surname NICOLEAU originates from France, with its roots dating back to the medieval era. It is derived from the French personal name "Nicolas," which itself stemmed from the Greek name "Nikolaos," meaning "victory of the people."

The earliest recorded instances of the NICOLEAU surname can be traced back to the 13th century, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Brittany. It is believed that the name was initially adopted as a patronymic, indicating being the son or descendant of an individual named Nicolas.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various historical records, including the Rolls of the Battell Abbey in Sussex, England. This suggests that individuals bearing the NICOLEAU surname may have been among the Norman settlers who accompanied William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

One notable historical figure with the NICOLEAU surname was Jean-Baptiste NICOLEAU (1604-1686), a French Jesuit priest and mathematician. He is renowned for his contributions to the field of optics and his work on the theory of lenses.

Another prominent individual was Pierre-Claude NICOLEAU (1678-1744), a French architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Palais des Tuileries and the Palais Bourbon.

In the 18th century, the NICOLEAU surname gained further recognition with the military career of Jean-Nicolas NICOLEAU (1756-1823), a French general who served in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He played a crucial role in several significant battles, including the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805.

The 19th century saw the rise of Louis-Antoine NICOLEAU (1801-1877), a French politician and lawyer who served as a member of the National Assembly and advocated for social reforms.

Another noteworthy figure was Émile NICOLEAU (1830-1894), a French sculptor renowned for his works in bronze and marble. His sculptures adorned several public spaces and monuments in Paris.

Throughout history, the NICOLEAU surname has been associated with various professions, including the arts, sciences, politics, and military service. Although the spelling may have varied slightly over time, the essence of the name has remained intact, reflecting its French heritage and the enduring legacy of individuals who bore this distinguished surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nicoleau

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

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

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

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