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

Prioleau, 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 Prioleau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Prioleau in America

Prioleau is the 17104th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Prioleau surname appeared 1,659 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 Prioleau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Prioleau 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 Prioleau

The surname Prioleau has its origins in France, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the French word "priolot," which means a small meadow or pasture. The name was likely derived from a place name referring to a location with such a feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Prioleau surname can be found in the parish records of St. Denis-sur-Huisne, France, in the year 1593, where a certain Pierre Prioleau is mentioned. Other early spellings of the name include Priolleau, Priolot, and Priolault.

In the 17th century, the Prioleau family established themselves in the French colony of South Carolina in North America. Samuel Prioleau, born in France around 1630, was among the first settlers to arrive in the colony in the late 1600s. He became a prominent figure in the early days of Charleston and served as a member of the colonial assembly.

Another notable figure bearing the Prioleau surname was Philippe Prioleau, who was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1718. He played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War, serving as a lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army. Prioleau fought in several key battles, including the Siege of Savannah and the Battle of Hobkirk's Hill.

In the 19th century, William Prioleau, born in 1798 in Charleston, South Carolina, gained recognition as a poet and author. His works included "The Parting Genius of Britain and America" and "The Huguenot Galley-Slave," which explored themes of freedom and the struggles of the Huguenot community in France.

The Prioleau name can also be found in historical records related to the Huguenot diaspora, as many French Protestants fled religious persecution in the 16th and 17th centuries and settled in various parts of the world, including South Carolina.

Another notable figure was James Prioleau, born in 1829 in Charleston, South Carolina. He served as a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and participated in several campaigns, including the Siege of Petersburg.

Throughout its history, the Prioleau surname has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, military service, literature, and more. While its origins can be traced back to France, the name has become deeply rooted in the history and culture of South Carolina and the United States.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Prioleau

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

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

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

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