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

Viau, 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 Viau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Viau in America

Viau is the 22301st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Viau surname appeared 1,156 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 Viau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Viau 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 Viau

The surname VIAU originated in France and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "viau," which means "calf" or "young bull." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked with or raised cattle.

VIAU is a common surname in the northern regions of France, particularly in Normandy and Brittany. It appears in some of the earliest French census records and tax rolls from the 13th and 14th centuries, indicating its long-standing presence in the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name VIAU can be found in a 1289 document from the town of Rouen, where a certain Guilleaume Viau is mentioned as a landowner. Another notable early bearer of the name was Jean Viau, a merchant from Paris who lived in the late 15th century (born around 1460).

The VIAU surname has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. For example, Théophile de Viau (1590-1626) was a French poet and dramatist who gained fame during the Renaissance period. His work was influential in the development of French literature and theatre.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Claude de Viau (1570-1645), a French clergyman and writer who served as the Bishop of Rennes. He was known for his religious writings and his efforts to promote education and literacy in his diocese.

In the 18th century, François Viau (1732-1798) was a French architect and urban planner who contributed to the redesign of several cities, including Paris and Bordeaux. His work was instrumental in the development of modern urban planning principles.

During the 19th century, Célestin Viau (1818-1889) was a prominent Canadian businessman and politician who played a significant role in the development of the city of Montreal. He served as mayor of the city from 1876 to 1878.

The VIAU surname has also been associated with several notable places throughout France. For example, the village of Viau-sur-Indre in the Centre-Val de Loire region takes its name from the nearby Indre River, with the prefix "Viau" likely referring to the cattle-rearing activities that once thrived in the area.

Overall, the surname VIAU has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval France, with its origins likely stemming from the Old French word for "calf" or "young bull." Despite its humble beginnings, the name has been borne by numerous notable individuals throughout the centuries, spanning diverse fields such as literature, religion, architecture, urban planning, and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Viau

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

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

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

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