Explore the Family Name Brochu
The meaning of Brochu
French: occupational name from an Old French derivative of Latin broccum, denoting different pointed objects such as needle and spit (compare Broche). History: Jean Brochu from Montaigu in Vendée, France, married Nicole Saulnier in Sainte-Famille, Île d’Orléans, QC, in 1669. Some characteristic forenames: French Andre, Armand, Aime, Fernand, Emile, Laurent, Marcel, Cecile, Donat, Gaetan, Gilles, Jacques.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Brochu in the United States?
Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Brochu has seen a slight decrease in rank from 2000 to 2010. The ranking went down by approximately 6.75%, moving from 13,665 in 2000 to 14,587 in 2010. Despite the drop in ranking, the actual count of individuals with the surname Brochu increased marginally by 0.25% from 2,036 to 2,041 during this same period. However, when considered as a proportion per 100,000 individuals, the prevalence of the surname decreased by 8% from 0.75 to 0.69.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,665 | #14,587 | -6.75% |
| Count | 2,036 | 2,041 | 0.25% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.75 | 0.69 | -8% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Brochu
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates an interesting shift in the ethnic identity associated with the surname Brochu between 2000 and 2010. While the overwhelming majority of those bearing the Brochu surname identified as White (96.86% in 2000 and 96.33% in 2010), there were notable increases among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and those reporting two or more races. Specifically, the percentage of Brochus identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander nearly doubled from 0.29% to 0.54%, while those reporting two or more races more than doubled from 0.44% to 0.93%. On the other hand, the percentages of Brochus identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native fell to zero in 2010, down from 0.44% in each category in 2000. The percentage identifying as Hispanic saw a modest increase from 1.52% to 1.76%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.86% | 96.33% | -0.55% |
| Hispanic | 1.52% | 1.76% | 15.79% |
| Two or More Races | 0.44% | 0.93% | 111.36% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.29% | 0.54% | 86.21% |
| Black | 0.44% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.44% | 0% | 0% |