Show ContentsBegule History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The French name Begule 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 Begule family

The surname Begule 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 Begule family

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

Begule 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 Begule 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 Begule 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 Begule Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Begule family

Approximately 110 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec. France gave land incentives for 2,000 migrants during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. Migration to New France (Quebec) continued from France until it fell in 1759. In the year 1675 the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The distinguished family name Begule has made significant contributions to the culture, arts, sciences and religion of France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Begule 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.


Contemporary Notables of the name Begule (post 1700) +

  • Lucien Bégule (1848-1935), French painter, glass artist and art historian


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


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