Michaud
A French surname that usually began as a pet form of Michel, ultimately from the biblical name Michael.
The #2,431 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 20,707 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Michaud is a French surname built from the personal name Michel, with the suffix -aud often used in older French to form a familiar or diminutive surname. The deeper root is Hebrew Michael, meaning "Who is like God?" In historical French usage, Michaud could function as an affectionate or regional variant of Michel, rather than a separate full given name.
History
The surname is well established in France and appears in many regional spelling variants, including Michaut, Michault, Michaux, and Michau. It spread into French-speaking areas and later to North America through migration. Some older surname writers treated it as a shortened or altered form of Michel, which is consistent with the common French naming pattern.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older French surname books often group Michaud with other Michel-based forms rather than treating it as a separate root name.
From the historical record
“1« Bouillon, bouillie, gâteau , tarte (oil) ; 2o dér. de Michaud. — Chau- deau est encore un nom de lieu ther- mal (chaude-eau). Chauderlier , Chauderlot .”
— Dictionnaire des noms (French surnames)