Show ContentsCroteau History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Ancient French historical documents reveal Anjou as the origin of the name Croteau. Croteau was a name for a person who lived near a notable burial ground. The name is derived from the Latin word "crypta," which means "crypt."

Early Origins of the Croteau family

The surname Croteau was first found in Anjou, a former county, duchy and province centred on the city of Angers in the lower Loire Valley of western France.

Early History of the Croteau family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Croteau research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1512 and 1738 are included under the topic Early Croteau History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Croteau Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous spelling alterations depending on the region and time it was used. The early development of the French language relied heavily on borrowing elements and grammar from other languages. For example, Old French was infused with Germanic words and sounds when barbarian tribes invaded and settled in France after the fall of the Roman Empire. Middle French also borrowed heavily from the Italian language during the Renaissance. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Croteau is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Crotte, de la Crotte, Crôtte, Crotteau, Croteau, Crôteau, Crôtteau, Crottard, Crotard, Crôtard, Crôttard, Crottet, Crotet, Crotey and many more.

Early Notables of the Croteau family

More information is included under the topic Early Croteau Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Croteau World Ranking

In the United States, the name Croteau is the 3,198th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Croteau is ranked the 612nd most popular surname with an estimated 8,326 people with that name. 2 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Croteau is the 244th popular surname. 3


Canada Croteau migration to Canada +

Migration from France to New France or Quebec as it was now more popularly called, continued from France until it fell in 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In the treaty of Utrecht, the Acadians were ceded by France to Britain in 1713. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported. They found refuge in Louisiana. In 1793, the remaining French in these provinces came under British rule. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many of this distinguished family name Croteau were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Croteau were

Croteau Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Pierre Croteau, who landed in Canada in 1681
  • Jacques Croteau, son of Louis and Renée, who married Marie Martin, daughter of Pierre and Joachime, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 5th February 1687 4
  • Louis Croteau, who married Marie-Louise Bordeleau in Pte-aux-Trembles in 1695
  • Louis Croteau, son of Vincent and Jeanne, who married Marie-Louise Bordeleau, daughter of Antoine and Pérette, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 22nd November 1695 4
Croteau Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Nicolas Croteau, son of Vincent and Jeanne, who married Catherine Mesny, daughter of Etienne and Catherine, in Quebec on 11th November 1709 4
  • Charles Croteau, son of Vincent and Jeanne, who married Marie-Suzanne Dion, daughter of Philippe and Suzanne, in Saint-Nicolas, Quebec on 13th October 1710 4
  • Pierre Croteau, who married Marie Chartré in Charlesbourg, Quebec in 1715
  • Pierre Croteau, son of Vincent and Jeanne, who married Marie Chartré, daughter of François and Marie-Apolline, in Charlesbourg, Quebec on 29th April 1715 4
  • Jacques Croteau, who married Marie-Charlotte Dupont in St-Antoine-Tilly in 1728
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Croteau (post 1700) +

  • Julie Croteau, first woman to play men’s NCAA baseball
  • Robert Croteau (b. 1952), French professional footballer
  • François Croteau (b. 1972), Canadian city councillor from Montreal, Quebec
  • Gary "Crow" Croteau (b. 1946), retired Canadian ice hockey forward


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  4. Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.


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