Surname Therriau - Meaning and Origin
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Therriau: What does the surname Therriau mean?
The surname Therriau is of French origin, often linked with regions in France like Brittany and Normandy. While there isn't a direct translation or detailed historical significance associated with Therriau, it corollates with a class of surnames derived from personal names. This name might be related to the popular French surnames Thibaut, Theureau, or Thoreau, which are derived from the old French personal name Thierri, a variant of Theodoric. Theodoric is a Germanic name composed of the elements “people” and “ruler." However, without specific genealogical records or detailed etymological studies, the exact meaning for Therriau cannot be confidently asserted. Remember that the meaning of surnames can vary based on geographical origin, shifts in language, and historical context.
Order DNA origin analysisTherriau: Where does the name Therriau come from?
The last name Therriau is a French last name that is most commonly found in Northern France, specifically in the historic region of Normandy. It is associated with descendents of the Normans, who were once a fierce group of Viking warriors. Nowadays, the last name is also found in Belgium, Canada, and the United States.
In France, the name is primarily found in the regions of Seine-Maritime, Val-d’Oise, and Charente. While the name is still shared among families in those areas, many Therriau descendants have since left France for other parts of the world.
Due to the large French diaspora in the 19th and 20th centuries, the spread of this last name is noteworthy. It can now be found as far away as Canada and the U.S., as well as Belgium. Here, the French-speaking areas of Wallonia are particularly common for families with the Therriau surname.
Finally, the last name has also taken on other spellings across the globe. In the United States these include variations such as Therault, Tero, and Thureau as many of the settlers Americanised their names to make them more palatable to their new home country. It is likely that other spelling variations of this name originate from similar reasons.
In conclusion, the last name Therriau is still commonly found in its original stronghold, Normandy, scattered across other parts of France, and also around the world. As with any last name, there are various spellings to be found - all part of the extensive reach of the French diaspora of the modern era.
Variations of the surname Therriau
The Therriau surname has many variants, spellings, and even alternative surnames of the same origin. Some of these include: Theriault, Thériault, Thériauld, Thériaulx, Thériaulte, Thériaud, Théraud, Thérault, Thieriault, Thierault, Thérial, Thiriault, Thirault, Thèreault, Thireault, Thiraud, Thereault, and Théral.
This surname originated in France and is derived from the personal name Thierry. It is believed to have originally been a nickname derived from the Gallic personal name Thaïros, which is derived from the Celtic elements thabor, meaning ‘great’ or ‘high’; and rix, meaning ‘king’ or ‘lord’. Commonly found in the south-west of the country, Therriau is frequently found in the Brittany region.
Historically, Therriau is derived from the Latin term Theodoricus, which is thought to be composed of two elements, theo, meaning ‘God’; and dor, meaning ‘age’. This is frequently seen in previous spellings of the surname where a letter ‘d’ can be seen, such as Thérodu, Thierud and Thiroud.
The Therriau surname is also found in North America. This is due to many bearers migrating and settling in Canada and the United States during the years of colonization and immigration. In the United States, variants and associated surnames are most commonly found in Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and New York.
All in all, the surname Therriau has many variants, spellings, and alternative surnames of the same origin which have been associated with numerous regions in past centuries.
Famous people with the name Therriau
- Patrick Thériault: Canadian actor
- Jean-François Thériault: Canadian lawyer
- Yvon Thériault: Canadian politician
- Michel Thériault: Canadian Northrop F-5 fighter pilot
- Alexandre Therriault: French Academy Award nominee
- Thomas Thériault: Canadian filmmaker
- Gilles Thériault: French astronaut
- Mathieu Thériault: Canadian competitive figure skater
- Camille Thériault: Canadian singer-songwriter
- Nicolas Thériault: Canadian footballer