Perreault
A French surname most likely meaning “from the pear tree” or “place of pear trees.”
The #7,528 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 69,852 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Perreault is a French surname built from an old place-name element tied to the pear tree, from Latin pirum (pear). In many French surnames, endings like -eau, -eault, and related forms often reflect older regional spellings or diminutive/place-name shapes. The name likely began as a habitational surname for someone from a spot marked by pear trees or a similar local feature, though some regional spelling variation makes the exact formation less certain.
History
The surname is especially associated with French-speaking regions, including France and later French Canada. It is well represented in Quebec and in North American communities descended from French settlers. Like many French surnames, it appears in several spelling forms that reflect older regional orthography and later clerical standardization.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
French surnames ending in -eault often preserve older spellings that can look unusual today but are perfectly normal historically.