Show ContentsPelkie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The French family name Pelkie dates back to the Middle Ages. It was a Norman name given to a furrier. Looking back even further, we found the name was originally derived from the Old French word "pellet", meaning "animal skin", and was used to indicate a person in the trade of removing and selling the skins of animals.

Early Origins of the Pelkie family

The surname Pelkie was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where they held a family seat in the honors of Martinville, Molande, Ravinieres and Houssaye.

After the revolution this aristocratic family were made Barons of the Empire in the early 19th century. They also appeared in l'île-de-France, and Lyonnais and Toulouse to the south of France. Notable was Pierre Pelletier, French chemist, 1788-1842, who discovered, together with Caventou, the sulphate of quinine, and Jean Charles Paltier, French Physician 1785-1845.

Guillaume Pelletier, born in 1598 in Orne, France, came to Canada with his wife, Michelle (née Mabille). They married in France on 12th February 1619 and had two sons before travelling to the New World together. Guillaume worked in Quebec as a carpenter and had six more children with Michelle. Jean, their oldest son, was born on 12th June 1627. He married Anne Langlois in Quebec on 15th November 1649. Jean died in Rivière-Ouelle and was buried there on 25th February 1698. 1

Early History of the Pelkie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pelkie research. Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pelkie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pelkie 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 Pelkie is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Peletier, Pelletier, Pelletiers, Pelletiere, Pelletierre, le Pelletiere, Peltier, Peltiers, Peltiere, Peltierre, Le Peltier, Pellettier, Pellettiere, Peltear, Pelteare and many more.

Early Notables of the Pelkie family

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

Migration of the Pelkie family

France was active as a cultural leader in the early 16th century. One particular area in which they lead was the exploration of the New World. The explorers, like Jacques Cartier in 1534, led the way to North America. Champlain, in 1608, made the first of twenty voyages to France to attract settlers and brought the first migrant in 1617. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec, and 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 Pelkie 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 Pelkie were François (1684), René (1679), Mathurin (1756) Pelletier all arrived in Quebec from Aunis on the west coast of France; Georges Pelletier arrived in Quebec in 1652 from Normandie.



The Pelkie Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Adversis moveri nefas
Motto Translation: Turning away from wickedness.


  1. Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print


Houseofnames.com on Facebook