Show ContentsBarrau History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the Barrau family goes back to the Medieval landscape of northern France, to that coastal region known as Normandy. Barrau is a habitation name, derived from the place name Barrault, in Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the Barrau family

The surname Barrau was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where they held a family seat in the village of Charente in the arrondissement de Chatelle Rault. 2

"Formerly the Carmelites were called the Barred Brothers, because of their clothes. Du Cange says that barette is the noun of the verb bareter, to exchange, to trade. Moisy says that in Normandy the name of churn to the churn to make butter is given." 2

Early History of the Barrau family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barrau research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1658, 1706, 1711, 1804 and 1874 are included under the topic Early Barrau History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barrau Spelling Variations

Changes of spelling have occurred in most surnames. The earliest explanation is that during the early development of the French language, names were not yet fixed in spelling. Usually a person gave his version of his name, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. This depended on accent, and local accents frequently changed the spelling of a name. Some variables were adopted by different branches of the family name. Hence, there are some spelling variations of the name Barrau, including Baratte, Barate, Barat, Barrat, Barat, Baraud, Barraud, Barrault, Barault, Bareau, Barreau, Barau, Barrau, Barou, Barrou, Barot, Barrot, Barott, Barrott, Barrotte, Barotte, Barratt, Barrat, Baratt, Barre, Barry, Barrett, Barrette, Barret, Barett, Barrit, Barritt, Barritte, Barre and many more.

Early Notables of the Barrau family

Notable amongst the family in this period was Claude Barrat (c. 1658-c.1711), a French notary and a clerk of the court in Placentia (Plaisance), Newfoundland; and Nicolas Barat (died 1706), a French Catholic scholar of Hebrew works. Apollon Marie-Rose Barret was...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Barrau Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barrau Ranking

In France, the name Barrau is the 1,290th most popular surname with an estimated 4,371 people with that name. 3


United States Barrau migration to the United States +

Approximately 110 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec. France gave land incentives for 2,000 migrants during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. Migration to New France (Quebec) continued from France until it fell in 1759. In the year 1675 the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The distinguished family name Barrau has made significant contributions to the culture, arts, sciences and religion of France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Barrau were

Barrau Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • J.J. Barrau, who settled in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1822


The Barrau Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Pour bien desirer
Motto Translation: For wishing well.


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Dionne, N.-E., Les Canadiens-Francais Origine Des Familles. Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 1969. Print
  3. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/


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