Show ContentsBourgeoi History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The early French language of the northwestern region known as Brittany (French: Bretagne) is the soil from which the many generations of the Bourgeoi family have grown. The name Bourgeoi was given to a member of the family who was a person known as a "freeman". The name Bourgeoi is derived from the French word "bourgeois", which in medieval times was used to refer to the "free-men" of a town. "Free-men" were those whose status was between the noble classes and the serfs, who were obligated to work the feudal estates of the lords.

Early Origins of the Bourgeoi family

The surname Bourgeoi was first found in Brittany, where the family first originated and maintained their status as one of the more distinguished families of the region.

Several family members figured amongst the nobles of Trégnier en 1437. The Lords of Auteville, Heauville, and Gruchy were all ennobled in 1507. The family prospered and branched out into other regions such as Quimperlé, receiving its title of nobility in 1711.

The family name of Bourgeois was later found in the sub-prefecture of Brest as well as in the region of Poitou where several members held the position of principal county magistrate. The patronymic Le Bourgeois was also registered in Normandy, giving its name to four prominent families that were ennobled in 1666 and in 1671. 1

Jacques Bourgeois, born in 1618, was a French surgeon that settled in the New World in the 17th century. He arrived in Acadia aboard the ship Aulnay in the year of 1642. A year after arriving in Canada he married Jeanne Trahan at Port-Royal in 1643. Jacques worked as a military doctor and is regarded as the founder of Beaubassin, originally an Acadian village that is now located in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. 2

Early History of the Bourgeoi family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bourgeoi research. Another 163 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1541, 1550, 1557, 1561, 1620, 1663, 1676, 1700, 1708, 1711, 1713, 1715, 1716, 1750, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1851, 1857, 1920, 1927 and 1945 are included under the topic Early Bourgeoi History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bourgeoi Spelling Variations

History has changed the spelling of most surnames. During the early development of the French language in the Middle Ages, a person gave his version of his name, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. Some variables were adopted by different branches of the family name. Hence, there spelling variations of the name Bourgeoi, some of which include Bourgeois, Bourgois, Bourgeoys, Bourgeot, Le Bourgeois, de Bourgeois, Bourjois, Bourgès, Bourgeix and many more.

Early Notables of the Bourgeoi family

Notable amongst this name at this time was

  • Louis Bourgeois, a French writer on the theory of music, born in Paris in the beginning of the 16th century. He followed Calvin in 1541 to Geneva, where he was cantor of one of the churches, but quarr...
  • Louis Thomas Bourgeois, was a dramatic composer, born at Fontaine l'Evêque in 1676. He was counter-tenor at the Grand Opéra in Paris in 1708, but in 1711 devoted himself entirely to composing. In 1713...
  • Marguerite Bourgeoys, C.N.D., (1620-1700), born in Troyes, France, was the French foundress of the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal; Charles Le Bourgeois, squire and Lord of Beaufraye; Joachim L...

Migration of the Bourgeoi 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 Bourgeoi 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 Bourgeoi were Jeanne Trahan, who settled in Acadia in 1636; Marguerite Bourgeoys, 33; who arrived in Montreal in 1653; another Marguerite Bourgeoys, who settled in Montreal in 1659.



  1. Hozier, Charles D, and Antoine Bachelin-Delforenne. État présent De La Noblesse française (1883-1887): Contenant Le Distionnaire De La Noblesse Contemporaine Et Larmorial général De France, Dapres Les Manuscrits De Ch. D Hozier. Librairie Des Bibliophiles, 1884. Print.
  2. Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print


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