Show ContentsCouteur History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Couteur family

The surname Couteur was first found in Limousin, where the family first originated as one of the distinguished families of the region. In Limousin, members of the family intermarried with other important families of the day, such as the Renon family. Many members of this family were well known for their contributions to the culture and politics of their respective communities.

Guillaume Couture, born in 1617, son of Guillaume and Madeleine (née Malet), travelled from Rouen, France to Canada in 1640. After his arrival he worked as a land clearer and as an interpreter for the Jesuit Fathers in Quebec. He married Anne Aymart, born in 1629, on 16th November 1649. They settled together in Quebec until Anne's death on 18th June 1700, and Guillaume's death in 1702. 1

Early History of the Couteur family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Couteur research. The years 1617, 1640 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Couteur History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Couteur Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous alterations in spelling because of the various cultural groups that inhabited specific regions. Eventually, each region possessed its own local dialect of the French language. The early development of the French language, however, was also influenced by 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 Couteur is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Couture, Cousture, Coudure, Couturas, Couturat, Coutureau, Couturaud, Couturot, Couturier, Couturié, Couturière, Lecouturier, Lecouturié, Coudurier, Coudurié, Coudurière, Lecoudurier, Lecoudurié, Cousturier, Cousturié, Cousturière, Lecousturier, Lecousturié and many more.

Early Notables of the Couteur family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Couteur Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Couteur family

In 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec, in 1663 there were only 500, 2,000 migrants arrived during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. 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. 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 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many distinguished contributions have been made by members of this family name Couteur. It has been prominent in the arts, religion, politics and culture in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Couteur were Jeanne Couturier, who settled in New York State in 1700-01; Frederick Couturier, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1840; Jacob and Louis Couturier, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1860..



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


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