Surname Terriau - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Terriau: What does the surname Terriau mean?
The surname Terriau is of French origin, however, its exact meaning is not clear. It's stated to have first been found in Limousin, a region in central France known for its rich history and cultural heritage. The name likely has regional or geographical significance, potentially relating to a specific characteristic of the land or profession of its original bearers. According to houseofnames.com, the Terriau family was a prominent one in this region. It is possible, that like many surnames of the time, it was derived from a trade or occupation. In the absence of definitive etymological information, the specific meaning of "Terriau" remains somewhat speculative. As with many surnames, particularly those of French origin, it's likely to have had a strong connection with its medieval social, professional, or geographical environment.
Order DNA origin analysisTerriau: Where does the name Terriau come from?
The last name Terriau is most commonly associated with the Canadian province of Quebec. It is often found within French-speaking Canadian populations, and is believed to have originated in the province. The name is derived from Old French and is a variation of a name traditionally associated with northern France, Tarriault.
The name is most prevalent in Quebec, where census figures indicate it is commonly found in the areas around Quebec City, Trois-Rivières and Gaspé. Incidence of the name is particularly high in the Gaspé Peninsula. In the past, many locals adopted Terriau as their surname, beginning in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, to avoid confusion with other families sharing the same last name in the small communities scattered across the rural regions of the province.
Today, the surname continues to be found in Quebec and places with a large French-speaking population, including some parts of the United States. It is also present in other countries, such as the Dominican Republic, France and Miami, Florida.
Generally a rare surname, Terriau is not present in the top 1,000 surnames listed in the most recent US census data. However, in Canada, the name appears to be moderately common, with an estimated 1,171 people bearing the surname currently residing in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick.
Variations of the surname Terriau
The surname Terriau is primarily of French origin and can be found in different countries around the world, especially in the United States and Canada. There are a few (primarily French) variants of this surname such as Terrion, Terrier, Térault, Terrail, Térail, Terron, Teriol, Terriault, and Terreault.
In the United States, the most popular spelling variants are Terriau and Terreault. There could also be other spellings found in records, such as Terrio, Terro, Tério, Terrault, Terriol, and Terreau.
Surnames related to Terriau include Terrion, Terrien, Terrio, Terrionne, Terion, Terrin, Terreault, Terriol, Tériault, Terrault, Terron, Terionne, Terran, Terrell, Tarriau, and Tarriault.
Due to immigration and name changes, some of the surnames above may have been altered slightly, like Terrio might become Terryo or Tarion might become Tarvon. Therefore, it is beneficial to search for the surname in all its various forms to ensure the best results.
Famous people with the name Terriau
- Armand Terriault: Armand Terriault is a Canadian record producer and composer. He is best known for his work on albums like A Million Miles Away, Gemini, and Jesus for World Peace.
- Shereen Terriault: Shereen Terriault is an Indigenous Canadian Métis author and public speaker from the Northwest Territories who has written several books for children, including The Children of the Earth, Red Fox and Granny and Crow and Sarah.
- Stephen Terriault: Stephen Terriault is a Canadian former professional hockey player who played for the Quebec Nordiques from 1989-90 to 1993-94.
- Jean-Benoît Terriault: Jean-Benoît Terriault is a Canadian astronomer who specializes in understanding how matter is distributed and moves on cosmological scales. He is currently a professor at the University of British Columbia.
- Travis Terriault: Travis Terriault is a Canadian game designer who has worked on popular video games like Star Wars The Old Republic and Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
- Anna Terriault: Anna Terriault is a Canadian Paralympic athlete. She has won gold medals in road cycling, track cycling, and ice sledge hockey.
- Therese Terriault: Therese Terriault is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She is best known for her album Reverie, which was released in 2015.