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

Treu, 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 Treu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Treu in America

Treu is the 35345th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Treu surname appeared 637 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 Treu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Treu 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 Treu

The surname TREU is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the German word "treu," meaning "loyal" or "faithful." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals known for their loyalty or trustworthiness.

In the early 14th century, the name TREU appeared in records from the region of Bavaria, particularly in the cities of Munich and Nuremberg. Some variations of the spelling included Trew, Treu, and Trieu, reflecting the regional dialects of the time.

One of the earliest documented references to the name TREU can be found in the Zürcher Stadtbücher, a collection of city records from Zurich, Switzerland, dating back to the 15th century. These records mention several individuals with the surname, including Hans Treu, a merchant who lived in Zurich in the late 1400s.

In the 16th century, the TREU name gained prominence in the region of Saxony, particularly in the city of Leipzig. Notable individuals from this period include Johann Treu (1516-1589), a renowned lawyer and legal scholar who served as a professor at the University of Leipzig.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the TREU name continued to spread across German-speaking regions of Europe. One notable individual from this era was Christian Treu (1695-1768), a German theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Altdorf.

As the TREU name spread beyond Germany, it also found its way into other European countries. In the late 18th century, records show instances of the name in the Netherlands, where it was often spelled as "Trew" or "Treu."

Moving into the 19th century, several prominent individuals bore the TREU surname. One example is Gustav Treu (1815-1889), a German classical scholar and archaeologist who made significant contributions to the study of ancient Greek art and architecture.

Another notable figure from this period was Max Treu (1857-1923), a German jurist and politician who served as a member of the Reichstag (Imperial Diet) and played a role in the drafting of the German Civil Code.

Throughout its history, the surname TREU has been associated with various professions, ranging from merchants and scholars to lawyers and politicians. Its enduring presence across German-speaking regions and beyond serves as a testament to its deep roots and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Treu

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

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

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

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