Show ContentsPoulain History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Poulain family

The surname Poulain was first found in Brittany where they were formerly seated in the honor of the seigneurie of Villesalmon.

By the 14th century they also acquired the seigneurie Belair and Riviere in that same county. They acquired estates on the Island of Jersey. They later acquired estates at Dodieres. By the 16th century they had branched to Paris and Lorraine, and Abbe in Flanders.

Claude Poulin, born in 1615, son of Paschal and Marie, arrived in Canada on 11th June 1636. After settling in the province of Quebec he married Jeanne Mercier, born in 1622, at the Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Recouvrance on 11th June 1636. They remained together in Quebec until Claude's death at the age of 72 on 17th December 1687. Jeanne passed away three days before Claude on 14th December 1687, at which time she was 65 years old. 1

Early History of the Poulain family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Poulain research. The years 1692, 1730, 1733 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Poulain History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Poulain Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Poulain, Poullain, Pouloun, Pullien, Pullein, De Poullain, De Poulien, Polin, Poulin, Poullin and many more.

Early Notables of the Poulain family

Notable amongst this name at this time was François Poulin de Francheville, Seigneur de Saint-Maurice (1692-1733), Montreal merchant who was granted permission by the King of France to mine the iron ore deposits on his seigneury in 1730. The...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Poulain Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Poulain Ranking

In France, the name Poulain is the 158th most popular surname with an estimated 20,427 people with that name. 2


United States Poulain migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Poulain Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Philip Poulain, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1812

Contemporary Notables of the name Poulain (post 1700) +

  • Jean Le Poulain (1924-1988), French stage actor and stage director
  • Corinne Le Poulain (1948-2015), French actress, niece of actor Jean Le Poulain
  • Gaston Élie Poulain (1927-2015), French Roman Catholic bishop
  • Gabriel Poulain, French champion cyclist who made several attempts to achieve human-powered flight and in July 1921 won a prize of 10,000 francs awarded by Peugeot
  • Benoît Poulain (b. 1987), French professional footballer
  • André Poulain, French cyclist who competed in four events at the 1908 Summer Olympics
  • Hervé Poulain (b. 1940), retired French racing driver, author, and auctioneer
  • Michel Poulain (b. 1947), Belgium astrophysicist


  1. Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/


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