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

Primeau, 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 Primeau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Primeau in America

Primeau is the 21842nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Primeau surname appeared 1,190 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 Primeau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Primeau 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 Primeau

The surname PRIMEAU originated in France, specifically in the region of Normandy during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "prim," meaning "first" or "prime," and was likely a nickname given to the firstborn son in a family or someone of particular importance or distinction.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PRIMEAU surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a medieval census commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Primeaux," indicating its Norman roots and early presence in England after the Norman Conquest.

During the 12th century, the name PRIMEAU began to appear in various historical records across Normandy and other parts of northern France. Notable examples include Jacques PRIMEAU, a wealthy merchant from Rouen, born in 1145, and Renaud PRIMEAU, a knight who participated in the Third Crusade (1189-1192) under Richard the Lionheart.

As the PRIMEAU surname spread across France, it took on various spellings, such as "Primault," "Primaux," and "Primot," reflecting regional dialects and variations. In some instances, the name was also associated with particular place names, such as "Primeau-sur-Seine" or "Primeau-le-Vieux," indicating the family's origins or land holdings.

One of the most famous individuals bearing the PRIMEAU surname was Jean-Baptiste PRIMEAU (1670-1738), a French explorer and fur trader who played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of the Great Lakes region in North America. He was among the first Europeans to establish trade routes and relationships with Native American tribes in the area.

Another notable figure was Marie-Louise PRIMEAU (1782-1856), a French writer and activist who advocated for women's education and equal rights. She published several influential works and was a prominent figure in the early French feminist movement.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the PRIMEAU surname continued to spread globally as French settlers and immigrants established new communities across Europe, the Americas, and other parts of the world. Prominent individuals with this surname during this period include:

1. Pierre PRIMEAU (1813-1879), a French-Canadian businessman and landowner in Quebec.
2. Émile PRIMEAU (1850-1918), a French architect who designed several iconic buildings in Paris.
3. Marguerite PRIMEAU (1875-1942), a French opera singer renowned for her performances across Europe.
4. Henri PRIMEAU (1894-1967), a Belgian artist and sculptor whose works were exhibited in major galleries throughout his lifetime.
5. Jacques PRIMEAU (1920-2001), a French resistance fighter during World War II and recipient of the Croix de Guerre for his bravery.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Primeau

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

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

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

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