Thériault
A French surname, likely from a personal name ultimately linked to Therese or a related form.
The #5,894 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 52,732 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Thériault is a French surname found especially in French-speaking areas of Canada. It is generally understood as a surname built from a personal name, likely a regional form of the old given name Theriau/Thériaud, itself related to the name Thérèse or an older Germanic name stream that produced French forms like Thériau and Thériaud. The final -ult/-ault spelling is characteristic of French surname spelling patterns and does not by itself change the basic meaning.
History
The name is especially associated with Acadian and Québécois families, and it became more widespread in North America through French settlement and later migration. In modern usage, Thériault is a well-established French Canadian surname, with spellings varying by region and family line. The best-known bearer in English-speaking contexts is likely novelist and journalist Yves Thériault.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname is common enough in French Canada that it has several closely related spellings, reflecting older French naming and local spelling habits rather than separate origins.