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

Richelieu, 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 Richelieu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Richelieu in America

Richelieu is the 86645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Richelieu surname appeared 215 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 Richelieu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Richelieu 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 Richelieu

The surname Richelieu originated in France, specifically in the region of Poitou. It can be traced back to the 11th century and is derived from the Old French word "richart", meaning wealthy or powerful. The name is closely associated with the historical region of Richelieu, located in the Indre-et-Loire department of France.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Richelieu name can be found in a charter from 1096, which references a nobleman named Renaud de Richelieu. This document suggests that the family had already established itself as a prominent force in the region by the late 11th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the Richelieu family played a significant role in the affairs of Poitou and the wider region. They held extensive lands and wielded considerable influence in the local feudal hierarchy. Several members of the family were knights and served in various military campaigns during this period.

The name Richelieu gained further prominence in the 16th and 17th centuries with the rise of Armand Jean du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu (1585-1642). A prominent statesman and cardinal, he served as the chief minister to King Louis XIII of France and played a pivotal role in shaping French foreign and domestic policies during his time in power.

Another notable figure with the Richelieu surname was Louis François Armand du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu (1696-1788). He was a prominent military leader and diplomat who served as a Marshal of France and played a key role in the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War.

In the 19th century, Armand Emmanuel du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu (1766-1822), was a French statesman and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of France during the Bourbon Restoration from 1815 to 1818.

The Richelieu name has also been associated with several notable places throughout history. The town of Richelieu in Indre-et-Loire, for instance, was founded in the 17th century by Cardinal Richelieu and bears his name.

While the surname Richelieu has its roots in France and the Poitou region, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonial expansions. However, its origins and historical significance remain firmly rooted in the French aristocracy and the influential figures who carried this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Richelieu

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

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

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

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