Brochard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Brochard was first found in Anjou, a former county, duchy and province centered on the city of Angers in the lower Loire Valley of western France.

Early records of this house show that it held a considerable rank in feudal times. Guérin Broc, a Lord, made a donation to the Abbey of Vendome in 1059. Henry de Broc, a knight, was recorded in a document of the French court in 1185. The name and the coat of arms of the house of Broc are in the crusade rooms in Versailles. This line produced many important people, such as many general officers, military governors, and gentlemen of the chambers of Henry II, Charles IX, Henry IV, Louis XIV.

Important among the nobility of this lineage was Jean de Broc, a lieutenant-general of the French artillery in 1482. In 1565 Charles IX accompanied by Catherine de Medici travelled to Anjou and stayed at the Ville-du-Foureir of which Jean de Broc was Lord. The name Brochard was also noted at this time, in Bretagne with Phillippe Brochard, a cavalier in 1371.

Jean Brochu, born in 1641, son of Louis and Renée (née Gaschet), travelled from France to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in Canada he married Nicole Saulnier, born in 1651, daughter of Pierre and Jeanne (née Chavillard), at Sainte-Famille-de-l'île-d'Orléans on 28th October 1669. They remained together in Quebec until Jean's death at Sainte-Jean-de-l'île-d'Orléans on 28th February 1705. Nicole passed away on 3rd November 1714. 1