Explore the Family Name Comeau
The meaning of Comeau
French: 1. topographic name from a diminutive of come, a variant of combe ‘narrow valley, ravine’ (see Combe). 2. alternatively, perhaps a derivative of the personal name Come/Côme, from the Greek name Kosmas (see Cosma). Compare Comeaux, Commo, and Como. Some characteristic forenames: French Pierre, Andre, Camille, Alphie, Emile, Fernand, Herve, Jacques, Marcel, Monique, Murielle, Normand.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Comeau in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Comeau has seen a slight shift in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked at 5813, with a count of 5448, and a proportion of 2.02 per 100k of the population. By 2010, although the count of individuals with the surname increased slightly to 5609, its rank dropped to 6115 and the proportion fell to 1.9 per 100k, indicating a decrease in popularity by 5.94 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,813 | #6,115 | -5.2% |
| Count | 5,448 | 5,609 | 2.96% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.02 | 1.9 | -5.94% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Comeau
Regarding ethnic identity, the census data reveals interesting changes over the same time frame. The majority of individuals with the surname Comeau identified as White, accounting for 94.03 percent in 2000 and 92.48 percent in 2010. Over the years, there's been a notable increase in the Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic representation among the Comeau surname bearers, with growth rates of 145.00 percent and 71.84 percent respectively. The category "Two or more races" also saw a modest rise from 1.47 percent to 1.71 percent. Conversely, the American Indian and Alaskan Native group experienced a drop from 0.59 percent to 0.53 percent, while the Black ethnicity saw a marginal rise from 2.48 percent to 2.53 percent. This data, taken from the Decennial U.S. Census, provides an intriguing glimpse into the evolving ethnic identities associated with the Comeau surname.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.03% | 92.48% | -1.65% |
| Black | 2.48% | 2.53% | 2.02% |
| Hispanic | 1.03% | 1.77% | 71.84% |
| Two or More Races | 1.47% | 1.71% | 16.33% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.4% | 0.98% | 145% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.59% | 0.53% | -10.17% |
Comeau ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Comeau is British & Irish, which comprises 44.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (27.7%) and Italian (6.1%). Additional ancestries include Spanish & Portuguese, Eastern European, Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Greek & Balkan.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 44.1% |
| French & German | 27.7% |
| Italian | 6.1% |
| Other | 22.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Comeau
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Comeau have recent ancestry locations in United Kingdom and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 80.70% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 80.70% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 80.70% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 80.70% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 80.70% |
What Comeau haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Comeau is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-P312 and IJK-L15, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Tolman, Hardison, Goyette, Bixby, Galligan, Hinckley, Guidry, Lapointe, Montemayor, Boudreau.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Comeau surname are: H1, N, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Comeau have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Comeau" Surname 37.5%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Comeau" Surname 21.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Comeau" Surname 16.7%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Comeau" Surname 21.2%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Comeau?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Comeau are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition