Surname Descarreau - Meaning and Origin

Descarreau: What does the surname Descarreau mean?

The surname Descarreau is derived from the French word for an ironworker or locksmith. It likely came to France with the arrival of Vikings in the 10th century and over time took on the French spelling of its original Nordic form.

Descarreau is a relatively rare surname, with still fewer who still proudly bear this name. One of its earlier known bearers was Jean Descarreau de Thierry, a Germanic-Norman who participated in the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

Descarreau is a name with strong historical ties stretching back across many centuries, and it's a reminder for those who bear it of the strong Norman heritage that still shape French culture today.

It could also connotate a hardworking temperament: both locksmiths and blacksmiths were vital workers for any feudal society, responsible for creating and repairing a wide variety of everyday tools. Both occupations would have required a great deal of skill and a willingness to work with their hands.

Descarreau is a unique name, whose bearer carries the history of the name as well as a legacy of hardworking ethics passed down through generations. This is certainly something to proud of!

Descarreau: Where does the name Descarreau come from?

The last name Descarreau is most commonly found in Quebec, Canada today. It is an anglicized version of the French name Descarré which is a blue-collar surname derived from the verb 'descarrer', which means 'to clear lands'. It mainly refers to peasant farmers who were responsible for clearing woodlands for fields.

Descarreau is a fairly common name in the area, but it does not have a global presence. Overall, the Descarreau family is most populous in Quebec, particularly in the region of Mauricie, Centre-du-Qubec and the Capitale-Nationale. This region has historically been the cultural centre of French-speaking Canadians since the 17th century and is where the family first established itself.

In the United States, the Descarreau name has spread as far as California, mainly along with other French-Canadian emigrant families. However, its overall presence if very minimal. Descarreau is a fairly uncommon last name despite its long history and has not had much success in making its way across the world.

Variations of the surname Descarreau

Descarreau is a patronymic surname, derived from the given name Descarre, which itself was derived from a nickname of a location in France. The variants and spellings of the surname Descarreau include Descary, Descarri, Descarie, Descaryau, Deskary, Descareau, Deskaryau, Dessacary, Deskara, and Dessaureau.

Descarreau is also a variant of the Metis and French Canadian surname Descoteau. In Canada, the surname originated in France, as the root Descaret (or Descaset) derived from the French village of Descartes. The French spelling is Descôteaux, and in North America, it was often shortened to Descoteau. Spellings and variants of this surname include Descoteaux, Descotiaux, Descoteo, Descoteau, Descôteaux, Descotau, Descotto, Descoats, D'Escoata, Descot, Descaus, Descottau, Deescoto, Descutoff, Descotie, Desautels, and D'Essacot.

Descarreau is also a variant of the Old French surname Descourt, which is believed to have been derived from an occupational name for a barber. Spelling and variants of this surname include Descour, Descours, Descourn, Descource, Descourtaux, Descourceau, Desycour, Descoursais, defenduco, Deescours, and Deescoursais.

In addition, the surname Descarreau may also be a variant of the French surname Desquoreau. Spelling variants of the name include Desquero, Desquereaux, Desquoreaux, Desquereau, D'Esqueraux, D'Esquero, Desquéreau, D'Esquerau, Desquereault, Desquero, and Desquereault.

Overall, Descarreau is a patronymic name and its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are mainly derived from nicknames or occupational names. Spellings and variants of the surname are often based on the specific country or location the name derived from.

Famous people with the name Descarreau

• Philippe Descarreau, French actor
• Anne Descarreau, renowned French photographer
• Emmanuelle Descarreau, French novelist and playwright
• Pierre Descarreau, artist and professor, taught at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
• Paul Descarreau, French winemaker, specializing in winemaking in the Loire Valley
• Stéphane Descarreau, French television presenter
• François Descarreau, Belgian actor and director
• Gisele Descarreau, French hairdresser
• Jean-Patrice Descarreau, French rugby player
• Maxime Descarreau, French sculptor and photographer

Other surnames

Descarreaux