Show ContentsBoodray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The present generation of the Boodray family is only the most recent to bear a name that originated in that ancient area known as Languedoc. Their name comes from having lived in Languedoc, where the family was found since the early Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Boodray family

The surname Boodray was first found in Languedoc, where the family was anciently established.

The members of the family also settled in other regions of France, where several of them distinguished themselves. Jean-Baptiste Boudrot was born in Tixey, in Côte-d'Or, in 1819, into a family of cultivators. He was ordained in 1843 and became a scholar. Among his writings were "L'hôtel-Dieu de Beaune" (1878) and "Le jugement dernier" (1875).

Jean Boudreau, born in 1643, son of Martin and Marie (née Foucault), travelled from Charente-Inferieure, France to Canada in 1667. He married Marie-Rose Vivien on 13th September 1673. His second marriage was in Charlesbourg on 13th December 1689 to Elizabeth Pivain. 1

Early History of the Boodray family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boodray research. The years 1819, 1843, 1878 and 1875 are included under the topic Early Boodray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boodray Spelling Variations

Changes of spelling have occurred in most surnames. The earliest explanation is that during the early development of the French language, names were not yet fixed in spelling. Usually a person gave his version of his name, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. This depended on accent, and local accents frequently changed the spelling of a name. Some variables were adopted by different branches of the family name. Hence, there are some spelling variations of the name Boodray, including Boudreau, Boudreaux, Boudrot, Boudros, Boudrault, Boudreault, Boudriaux, Boudret, Boudereau, Boudereaux, Bouderot, Bouderos, Bouderault, Boudereault, Boudreiaux, Bouderet and many more.

Early Notables of the Boodray family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Michel Boudrot (Boudreau, Boudreaux), born in La Rochelle France, he emigrated to the Acadia and became Judge and Lieutenant General, Lieutenant-général et...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boodray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Boodray family

In the 1700s, land incentives were finally given out by France to 2,000 migrants. Early marriage was encouraged in New France, and youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted migrants, both noble and commoner from France. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries, leaving French names scattered across the continent. The search for the Northwest passage continued. Migration from France to New France or Quebec, as it was now more popularly called, continued until 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, Acadia 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. 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 Boodray were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Boodray were Jean Boudreau, the son of Martin Boudreau and of Marie Foucault, of Saint-Porchaire, in Charente-Inférieure, who arrived in New France around 1667. In 1671 he settled in the village of Royal, where he married Marie-Rose Vivien in 1673. He became a widower and later married É.



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


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