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

Parenteau, 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 Parenteau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Parenteau in America

Parenteau is the 13509th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Parenteau surname appeared 2,245 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Parenteau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Parenteau 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 Parenteau

The surname Parenteau has its origins in France, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the French word "parent," meaning relative or kinsman. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who was a relative of a prominent family or individual.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Parenteau surname can be found in the parish records of Normandy, France, dating back to the late 1500s. The name appeared in various spellings, such as Parentault and Parentault, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

In the 17th century, the Parenteau name gained prominence in the Poitou region of western France. This area was known for its rich agricultural traditions, and it is possible that some Parenteau families were involved in farming or land ownership during this period.

As French settlers began to explore and colonize the Americas in the 17th and 18th centuries, the Parenteau surname made its way across the Atlantic. One notable figure was Pierre Parenteau, a French soldier and explorer who participated in the establishment of the French colony of Acadia (present-day Nova Scotia and parts of Maine) in the early 1600s.

In the late 18th century, Jean-Baptiste Parenteau (1745-1820) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the Québec region of Canada. He played a significant role in the development of the local economy and left a lasting legacy in the area.

Another notable individual with the Parenteau surname was Marie-Anne Parenteau (1781-1867), a French-Canadian educator and community leader. She founded one of the first schools for girls in the Québec region and was instrumental in promoting education and literacy among the local population.

In the 19th century, the Parenteau name spread further across North America, with families settling in various regions, including the United States. One example is Joseph Parenteau (1823-1892), a French-American businessman who established a successful lumber company in the state of Michigan.

Throughout history, the Parenteau surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, writers, politicians, and military figures. While some achieved notable accomplishments, many others lived ordinary lives, contributing to the rich tapestry of their communities and societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Parenteau

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

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

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

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