Show ContentsBegouen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The French name Begouen is of Medieval origin. It was a Norman name for a person whose speech is affected by a stutter. The word begin was Old French slang for a person who stuttered. As such, the name is commonly called a nickname.

Early Origins of the Begouen family

The surname Begouen was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where the family first established itself as an important participant in the cultural and political events of the region.

Jean Béguin was a renown chemist responsible for the discovery of the chemical calomel in 1608. Jacques Begin is recorded as a prominent member of the family who later established himself in the diocese of Lisieux in 1620. Michel Bégon (1638-1710), was a French administrator after whom the "begonia" plant was named in his honor. Jacques-François Begouen, a Count of the Empire under Napoleon and Abbey of Valasse, became a senior member of the Council of State and received his title of nobility in 1808. Along with these credits, he received a large area of land worth over 10,400 francs at the time.

Louis Begin, baptized on 28th September 1636, son of Jacques and Diane (née Meloque), travelled from France to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in Quebec he married Jeanne Durand, born in 1654, daughter of Martin and Françoise (née Brunet), on 15th October 1668. 1

Early History of the Begouen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Begouen research. The years 1525, 1528, 1544, 1631, 1638, 1667, 1702, 1710, 1747, 1808 and 1812 are included under the topic Early Begouen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Begouen 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 Begouen is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Begin, Bégin, Begine, Bégine, Beguin, Béguin, Beguine, Béguine, Beguinet, Béguinet, Beguinot, Béguinot, Beghin, Béghin, Begouin, Bégouin, Begon, Bégon, Begouen, Bégouen, Begougne, Bégougne and many more.

Early Notables of the Begouen family

Notable amongst the family in this period was Nicolas Lebègue (Le Bègue) (ca. 1631-1702), a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist; François-Barthélémy Beguinot, a Count of the Empire, who became a senator and received his title of nobility in 1808; Michel Bégon, known as Michel V Bégon or le Grand Bégon (1638-1710), a French ancien regime official; and his son, Michel Bégon de la Picardière (1667-1747)...
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Begouen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Begouen family

Migration from France to New France or Quebec as it was now more popularly called, continued from France until it fell in 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. In 1793, the remaining French in these provinces came under British rule. 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 Begouen were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Begouen were Louis Bégin of Saint-Léonard de Honfleur, who came to New France in circa 1654 with his father Jacques (Louis Bégin married Jeanne Durand at Qué.



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


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