Show ContentsCretin Surname History

Normandy is the region of ancient France from which the name Cretin was derived. It comes from when the family lived in Normandy, in the seigneury of Crestienville.

Early Origins of the Cretin family

The surname Cretin was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where the family was established in the seigneury of Crestienville, erected in 1694 for Le Neuf.

Early History of the Cretin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cretin research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1081, 1135, 1183, 1317, 1330, 1382, 1414, 1730, 1754, 1756, 1811, 1835, 1840 and 1909 are included under the topic Early Cretin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cretin Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous spelling alterations depending on the region and time it was used. The early development of the French language relied heavily on borrowing elements and grammar from other languages. For example, Old French was infused with Germanic words and sounds when barbarian tribes invaded and settled in France after the fall of the Roman Empire. Middle French also borrowed heavily from the Italian language during the Renaissance. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Cretin is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Cretien, Chrétien, Chretien, Crestien and others.

Early Notables of the Cretin family

Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cretin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cretin Ranking

In France, the name Cretin is the 4,082nd most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Cretin family

In the 1700s, land incentives were finally given out by France to 2,000 migrants. Early marriage was encouraged in New France, and youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted migrants, both noble and commoner from France. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries, leaving French names scattered across the continent. The search for the Northwest passage continued. Migration from France to New France or Quebec, as it was now more popularly called, continued until 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In the treaty of Utrecht, Acadia were ceded by France to Britain in 1713. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported. They found refuge in Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many of this distinguished family name Cretin were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Cretin were Michel Chrétien, who married Marie Meunier in 1665 in Quebec City; Vincent Chrétien, who married Anne Leclerc in 1668; Michel Chrétien, who married Marguerite Coeur in Charlesbourg in 1692.



  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/


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