| ![Show Contents]() Laforge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 France The name Laforge is an ancient French name that was given to a person from Brittany who was a person who worked in a forge or smithy. Early Origins of the Laforge familyThe surname Laforge was first found in Brittany where this distinguished family held a family seat at d'Espinay as members of the aristocratic families of that region. Early History of the Laforge familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laforge research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1789, 1820, 1870 and 1892 are included under the topic Early Laforge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Laforge Spelling VariationsFrench 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 Laforge is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Forge, Delaforge, LaForge, Laforge, Forges and others. Early Notables of the Laforge familyNotable amongst this name at this time was Laforge RankingIn the United States, the name Laforge is the 10,747th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Laforge is ranked the 2,906th most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 2
 Laforge migration to the United States | + |
In 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec. Migration was slow. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the French Acadian presence in the Maritimes had reached 500. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The family name Laforge has made many distinguished contributions in France and New France to the world of science, culture, religion, and education. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Laforge were
Laforge Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Adrian LaForge, who settled in New York state in 1672
- Adriaen LaForge, who arrived in New York in 1672 3
Laforge Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- John William LaForge and his wife settled in America in 1709
Laforge Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Marie Laforge, aged 22, who arrived in America, in 1892
- John LaForge, aged 56, who arrived in America from London, in 1894
- Jeanne Laforge, aged 22, who arrived in America from Southampton, in 1896
- Maria Laforge, aged 26, who arrived in America from Southampton, in 1896
Laforge Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Paul Laforge, aged 25, who arrived in America from Paris, in 1905
- Vincent Laforge, aged 31, who arrived in America from Paris, in 1905
- Frank LaForge, aged 29, who arrived in America, in 1906
- Moses F Laforge, aged 64, who arrived in America, in 1907
- Charles Louis Laforge, aged 50, who arrived in America from Paris, France, in 1908
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Laforge migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Laforge Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Andre Laforge who settled in Quebec in 1761 from Normandy
| Contemporary Notables of the name Laforge (post 1700) | + |
- Edward J. 'Ed" LaForge (1935-2018), American politician from Pontiac, Michigan, Member of the Michigan House of Representatives (1994-2000)
- Frank La Forge (1879-1953), American pianist and songwriter
- Théophile Édouard Laforge (1863-1918), French violist, the first professor of viola at the Conservatoire de Paris
- Louis LaForge, French artist
- Patrick LaForge (b. 1953), Canadian President and CEO of the Edmonton Oilers
- Joseph Claude Roger LaForge (b. 1936), Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played from 1957 to 1973
- Bill LaForge (1951-2005), Canadian ice hockey head coach, Head coach of the Vancouver Canucks in 1984
- Marc Laforge (b. 1968), Canadian former NHL ice hockey player who played from 1987 to 2001
- Claude LaForge (b. 1936), retired NHL ice hockey player
| Historic Events for the Laforge family | + |
Flight TWA 800 - Mr. Alain Dominque LaForge (d. 1996), from Hermelinghen, France, French passenger flying aboard flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; he died in the crash 4
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
- 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)
- The Washington Post Passenger List TWA Flight 800. (Retrieved 2018, February 15th). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/twa800/list01.htm
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Laforge migration to the United States 
Laforge migration to Canada 
