Explore the Family Name Soileau
The meaning of Soileau
French (northern): derivative of Old French (now regional) soile ‘rye’, used as a metonymic occupational name for a grower or merchant. This surname is no longer found in France; in the US it is most common in LA. History: Noël Soileau from Mézières in Ardennes married Marie-Josèphe Richaume in New Orleans, LA, in 1737.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Soileau in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Soileau saw a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 7769th, but by 2010 it fell to 8232nd, representing a 5.96% decrease. Despite this fall in ranking, the actual count of individuals with this surname increased by 2.1%, from 3944 people in 2000 to 4027 in 2010. However, its proportion per 100k population decreased by 6.16%, indicating that while the number of people named Soileau grew, it did so at a slower rate than the overall population.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,769 | #8,232 | -5.96% |
| Count | 3,944 | 4,027 | 2.1% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.46 | 1.37 | -6.16% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Soileau
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census shows changes between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of people with the surname Soileau who identify as White decreased slightly by 0.80%, from 92.17% in 2000 to 91.43% in 2010. There was a significant increase in those identifying as Hispanic, rising 119.72% from 0.71% to 1.56%. Those identifying as Black decreased by 8.25%, down from 6.06% to 5.56%. The data also showed new identifications in 2010 that were not present in 2000, with 0.35% identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and 0.40% as American Indian and Alaskan Native. Lastly, there was a minor increase of 11.11% in those identifying with two or more races, from 0.63% to 0.70%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.17% | 91.43% | -0.8% |
| Black | 6.06% | 5.56% | -8.25% |
| Hispanic | 0.71% | 1.56% | 119.72% |
| Two or More Races | 0.63% | 0.7% | 11.11% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.4% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.35% | 0% |