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

Trudeau, 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 Trudeau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Trudeau in America

Trudeau is the 6032nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Trudeau surname appeared 5,697 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Trudeau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Trudeau 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 Trudeau

The surname Trudeau has its origins in France and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "trou d'eau," which means "water hole" or "pool of water." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to refer to someone who lived near a body of water, such as a pond or a stream.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Trudeau can be found in various medieval French documents, including the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Savigny, dating back to the 13th century. This manuscript mentions a person named Renaud Trudeau, who lived in the village of Savigny in the region of Normandy.

During the Middle Ages, the Trudeau name was prevalent in the northern regions of France, particularly in Normandy and Picardy. It is also thought to have connections to several place names, such as Trou-d'Eau and Trouville, which further reinforces the name's association with water features.

Over the centuries, the Trudeau surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Trudel, Trudelle, and Trudault. These variations reflect the regional dialects and linguistic changes that occurred in different parts of France.

One notable historical figure bearing the Trudeau name was Jean Trudeau (1703-1770), a French-Canadian pioneer and explorer who played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of the Great Lakes region in North America. He was born in Quebec and is considered one of the first settlers of what is now Detroit, Michigan.

Another prominent individual with the Trudeau surname was Charles-Émile Trudeau (1887-1935), a French-Canadian physician and pioneer in the treatment of tuberculosis. He founded the Trudeau Sanatorium in Saranac Lake, New York, which became a renowned center for the treatment of tuberculosis patients.

In the realm of literature, the French author André Trudeau (1919-1995) gained recognition for his novels and short stories, which often explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition. His works, such as "La Mer et l'Amour" and "Le Temps de la Mémoire," earned him critical acclaim and several literary awards.

The Trudeau name has also been carried by prominent politicians and public figures, such as Pierre Elliott Trudeau (1919-2000), who served as the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984. His son, Justin Trudeau, has followed in his footsteps and currently serves as the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada since 2015.

Overall, the surname Trudeau has a rich history rooted in the rural regions of northern France, with its origins linked to water features and geographic locations. Throughout the centuries, individuals bearing this name have made significant contributions across various fields, including exploration, medicine, literature, and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Trudeau

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

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

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

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