Surname Moreau - Meaning and Origin

An Unexpected Journey: Tracing the Global Roots of the Moreau Surname Through iGENEA DNA Test

The Igena DNA test made me question my roots and the history of my surname, Moreau. Its results revealed diverse global connections and revealed links to ancient Celts which added a whole new level to my understanding of my ancestors’ journey.

V. Moreau

Moreau: What does the surname Moreau mean?

The last name Moreau is believed to origin either from Frankish roots stemming from the word 'moor' which was used to describe a moorland or marshy region or from the old French morwel meaning 'dark skinned'. Although it is not certain where the name originated from, many think it was derived from the middle age term 'More' which was originally used to describe French people of multiple backgrounds or ancestry.

Today, the name is most commonly found in France and Canada, with much smaller numbers present in other countries. As a French-derived name, the last name is found in a wide array of spellings, including Mooreau, Morreau, Moorau, Morou, and Morel.

Given its origin, the name often connotes characteristics including a mysterious, eye-catching persona with a hint of wildness and strength. Each family living with the name Moreau typically carries its own unique style and heritage, never failing to stand out from the crowd.

From French nobility to Québécois art, the Moreau name has been held by individuals who have made their mark throughout generations and eras. There are different meanings and inspirations behind the nameMoreau, depending on which family carries the name, but most agree that it is a name that evokes strength, power, and resilience.

Moreau: Where does the name Moreau come from?

The last name Moreau is most commonly found in France today. It is most commonly found in the northern part of the country, especially the regions of Normandy, Picardy, Basse-Normandie and Haute-Normandie. It is also found in some parts of Belgium and Quebec, Canada.

Moreau is a popular French last name and occurs in many French families. It has various meanings –‘’from the moor’’ or the ‘’dark one’’. It has also been associated with a blacksmith, mason, or even a person who worked with metal.

Moreau is a surname adopted by many in France and those of French descent throughout the world. It has remained a strong last name in France and there are famous people with this surname, names such as Jean Moreau, an actor, filmmaker, and screenwriter, and Marianne Moreau, a novel writer.

There is a small number of people with a last name of Moreau in the United States. Florida, Montana and Massachusetts are some states with most individuals with this last name residing in them. In the United Kingdom, Moreau was recorded in the 1881 census of England and Wales.

Overall, Moreau is a strong French last name still found in the areas where it originated, although a small number of people have branded this surname in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Moreau

The surname Moreau is derived from the Old French word for “moor” and is an occupational surname meaning “one who tends moorland”. It is an especially common surname in France, as well as other francophone countries such as Canada and Switzerland. It has many variant spellings and related surnames.

The most common modern spellings are Moraux, Morau, Morault, Moraulte, Moraule, Moraulx, Moreault, Moreau, Moreaux, Moreaulte, Moreaule, and Moreaulx. The variant spellings of Moreau in English include Murrow, Morell, Morrell, and Morrall. Other related surnames include Morin, Morais, Morel, Morriss, Morisse, Mauroy, and Mory.

Moreau is distinguished by its family of ancient French lineage, which was originally found in Poitou, a province in west-central France. Records show a Renaud Moreau in the 13th century as the earliest known bearer of the name. The Moreau family later spread across Brittany, Normandy, and Picardy before dispersing to all parts of the world after the French Revolution.

The surname can be traced to other countries and cultures with their various spellings and variants. For example, its Spanish variant is Moro, the Portuguese variant is Morais, and its Italian version is Moro. Variants of Moreau are also encountered in Germany, where the spelling is Morra, and in Eastern Europe, where it is spelled Moraw.

In America, the Moreau name can be found in states with large French populations such as Louisiana, Maine, Arkansas, and Missouri. Many African-American families bearing the Moreau name descended from African slaves brought to the American colonies in the early 1700s.

Overall, there is an abundance of variant spellings and related surnames available to those with the Moreau surname, reflecting its long and varied history of migration across cultures and regions.

Famous people with the name Moreau

• Jeanne Moreau: French actress, singer and director
• Marie-Thérèse Moreau: French classical contralto singer
• Antonio Moreau: Cuban-born baseball pitcher
• Armel Moreau: French rugby union player
• Lyle Moreau: Canadian actor best known for Buzz Moody in the television series Degrassi
• Rob Moreau: Canadian Olympic judoka
• Amandine Moreau: French long-distance runner
• Augustin Moreau: 19th-century French sculptor
• Mathieu Moreau-Gaudry: French world champion canoeist
• Pascal Moreau: French ice hockey goaltender
• Jean-Louis Moreau: French interior decorator
• Mathieu Moreau: French composer
• Samantha Moreau: Canadian actress
• Serge Moreau: French former skiing world champion
• Stéphane Moreau: French footballer
• Sylvie Moreau: Canadian actress
• Esther Moreau: French retired professional tennis player
• Charles Moreau-Vauthier: French architect
• Yannick Moreau: French footballer
• Laura Moreau: French pop singer

Other surnames

Moreaux