Show ContentsNadeau History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Nadeau family

The surname Nadeau was first found in Burgundy (French: Bourgogne), an administrative and historical region of east-central France, where this important family was anciently seated.

Members of the family also settled in other regions of France, and several of them were well-known for their respective talents and achievements. From the branch of the family, Nadault, came three deputies for the states of Burgundy. Benjamin-Edme Nadault was president of the House of Inquiries of Burgundy in 1770. Gustave Nadaud (1820-1893) was a musician and singer, very well-known in France. He published more than three hundred songs, the most famous one being, "Les Deux Gendarmes." He also composed some operettas and was the author of a two-act comedy, "Dubois d'Australie" (1874).

Joseph Nadeau, born in 1637, son of Macia and Jeanne (née Despins), travelled from Genouillac, France to the New World in the 17th century. He married Marguerite Abraham in Quebec on 6th November 1665. Joseph died in Sainte-Famille-de-l'île-d'Orléans, Quebec and was buried there on 12th February 1677. 1

Early History of the Nadeau family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nadeau research. Another 34 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1600, 1629, 1653, 1685, 1691, 1701, 1712, 1775, 1779, 1815, 1895 and 1898 are included under the topic Early Nadeau History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nadeau Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Nadeau, Nadot, Nadau, Nadaud, Nadauld, Nadault, Nadin and many more.

Early Notables of the Nadeau family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Gabriel Naudé (1600-1653), a French librarian and scholar; Jean Nadault (1629-1691), a scholar; his grandson, also Jean Nadault, (1701-1779), a naturalist...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Nadeau Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nadeau World Ranking

In the United States, the name Nadeau is the 1,631st most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Nadeau is ranked the 98th most popular surname with an estimated 28,109 people with that name. 3 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Nadeau is the 33rd popular surname. 4 France ranks Nadeau as 4,207th with 1,500 - 2,000 people. 5


Nadeau migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nadeau Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Jean Nadeau, (b. 1633), aged 23, French labourer travelling to Canada to work for Jacques Pepin arriving on 24th March 1656 6
  • Mr. Jean Nadeau, French labourer travelling to Canada to work for François Peron, arriving on 11th April 1656 6
  • Joseph-Osanny Nadeau, son of Marc and Jeanne, who married Marguerite Abraham, daughter of Godfroy and Denise, in Quebec on 6th September 1665 7
  • Jean Nadeau, son of Joseph and Marguerite, who married Anne Cassé, daughter of Antoine and Françoise, in Beaumont, Quebec in 1689 7
  • Denis Nadeau, son of Joseph and Marguerite, who married Charlotte Cassé, daughter of Antoine and Françoise, in Beaumont, Quebec on 9th November 1695 7
Nadeau Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Joseph Nadeau dit Bélair, who settled in Quebec in the 1700's
  • Joseph Nadeau, son of Denis and Charlotte, who married Angélique Turgeon, daughter of Zacharie and Elisabeth, in Beaumont, Quebec on 12th January 1723 7
  • Antoine Nadeau, son of Jean and Anne, who married Marguerite Turgeon, daughter of Zacharie and Elisabeth, in Beaumont, Quebec on 6th May 1726 7
  • Jean Nadeau, son of Denis and Charlotte, who married Louise Turgeon, daughter of Zacharie and Elisabeth, in Beaumont, Quebec on 13th January 1727 7
  • Alexis Nadeau, son of Denis and Charlotte, who married Marie-Claire Albert, daughter of Pierre and Louise, in Kamouraska, Quebec on 15th February 1729 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Nadeau (post 1700) +

  • Brianne Nadeau, American Democratic politician in Washington, D.C., Member of the Council of the District of Columbia (2015-)
  • Robert Nadeau (b. 1937), American Aikido teacher holding the rank of 7th dan and master teacher in the Aikikai
  • Robert Nadeau (b. 1944), American environmental scientist and science historian
  • Remi Nadeau (b. 1920), American historian
  • Jerry Nadeau (b. 1970), American race car driver
  • Kathryn Chisolm Nadeau, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Minnesota, 2008
  • Joseph D. Nadeau, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State Senate 2nd District, 1940
  • Harold F. Nadeau, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1944
  • Maurice Nadeau (1911-2013), French academic, editor and critic who lived to be 102
  • Michel Nadeau (1947-2021), Canadian administrator and journalist who served as Director-General of the Institute for Governance of Private and Public Organizations
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  4. "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
  5. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  6. Debien, Gabriel. Liste Des Engagés Pour Le Canada Au XVIIe Siècle. Vol. 6, Laval University, 1952. (Retreived 24th May 2018). Retrieved from https://lebloguedeguyperron.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/130-liste-des-contrats-dengagement-pour-la-nouvelle-france-releves-a-la-rochelle-entre-1634-et-1679/
  7. Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.


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