LeMieux
A French surname meaning “the better one” or “the one who is best,” from a comparative form of French *mieux* (“better”).
The #4,689 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 40,802 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Lemieux is a French surname built from *le* (“the”) + *mieux* (“better,” from Latin *melius*). As a byname, it likely began as a nickname for someone regarded as superior, improved, or “the better” of two people with the same name. In some cases it may also reflect a place-name or be influenced by old French naming patterns with the article attached.
History
The surname is found in French and especially French-Canadian records, where many such names were carried to North America in the colonial period. It is well known in Canada and among people of French descent in the United States. The spelling is usually kept as one word today, though older records may show spacing or capitalization variants.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because it literally includes the comparative “better,” Lemieux is one of those surnames that reads almost like a compliment in modern French.