Show ContentsOrts History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The French name Orts first arose during the Medieval period in the Languedoc region. It is derived from when the family having lived in Languedoc.

Early Origins of the Orts family

The surname Orts was first found in Languedoc, where the family has held a family seat since very early times.

Descending from the original line of Languedoc were François de Ricard, Lord of Cauderoque, Durand de Ricard, Lord of Villenouvette, Jean de Ricard de Villeneuve, Lord and Baron of Villeneuve-la-Comtal. In 1789 Jacques de Ricard de Villeneuve was a member of the Assembly of nobility of Castelnaudary. Jean-Henry de Ricard was a Lawyer in Parliament.

In the 15th century, Bérenger Guilhot became the archbishop of Auch. The family was believed to participate in the affairs of their community and were awarded lands, titles and letters patent confirming their nobility. Those who were granted the title of Lords of Ferrières were Bérenger Guilhot, Jean Guilhot, Arnaud Guilhot and Dominique Guilhot. The granting of the title to the prestigious members of this family was believed to confer special rights, privileges and responsibilities and Guillaume Guilhot became the Lord and also the Baron of Ferrières.

François Guilhot who branched out to Crouzet was given the title of Lord of Crouzet, rewarded with lands, estates, and became the founder of a new branch of this esteemed family. Notable among the distinguished branch of Lagarde was Emile-Joseph-Marie Guilhot who was the Captain and the Commandant of the 8th regiment of Hussars in the 19th century.

Jean Guillot, born in 1650, son of François and Jeanne (née Brou), was a carpenter for the king that travelled to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in Quebec he married Françoise Trud, daughter of Mathurin and Marguerite (née Gareman), on 3rd February 1688. 1

Early History of the Orts family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Orts research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Orts History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Orts Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous alterations in spelling because of the various cultural groups that inhabited specific regions. Eventually, each region possessed its own local dialect of the French language. The early development of the French language, however, was also influenced by 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 Orts is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Guilhot, Guilot, Guillhot, Guillot, Guillut, Guilut, Guilhut, Gillot, Gilhot and many more.

Early Notables of the Orts family

More information is included under the topic Early Orts Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Orts migration to the United States +

France finally gave land incentives for 2,000 migrants during the 1700s. 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, the Acadians 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 Orts were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Orts were

Orts Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Orts, who arrived in Maryland in 1832 2


  1. Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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