Broussard
What is the origin of the last name Broussard?
Meaning and origin
The last name Broussard is of French origin, specifically originating from the region of Brittany in Northwestern France. It is derived from the Breton word "braz" meaning "marsh" or "swamp," and the Old French word "sart" meaning "clearing." Therefore, Broussard signifies someone who comes from or lives near a marshy or swampy area. This surname has ancient roots and dates back to the Middle Ages, eventually spreading to various French-speaking regions across the globe.
The longer story
The last name Broussard is of French origin and is primarily found in the United States.
The Broussard surname can be traced back to the Middle Ages in France, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Brittany. It is said to have originated from a noble family with a long history of landownership and feudal power.
The Acadians were forcibly displaced by the British during the Great Expulsion in the mid-18th century. Many of them sought refuge in Louisiana, where they became known as Cajuns. Consequently, the Broussard surname is particularly prevalent in Louisiana and is often considered a Cajun surname.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#1,302
Broussard was the 1,302nd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 26,971 people, about 8.7 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Broussard
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Broussard is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.