Show ContentsDegregoire History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The prestigious French surname Degregoire is a proud sign of a rich and dynamic ancestry. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in France were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. The name Degregoire is derived from the ancient Greek personal name Gregorein, which means "watchful" or "awake."

Early Origins of the Degregoire family

The surname Degregoire was first found in Guyenne where they held a family seat in the village and estates of Gregoire, in the department of Lot-et-Garonne in Tarn, located in the south of France.

By the 14th century the main stem of the family had become seated at Gardies in Languedoc, a branch which would eventually produce the Marquis de St. Sauver. An important branch also settled in Toulouse presenting Counts of the Empire after the revolution. This distinguished family also branched to Picardy. A branch in the Franche-Comté settled in the Seigneurie of Villefreroux, and were elected to the nobility in 1531. Meanwhile, a branch in Lorraine became Seigneurial in 1650. There have been several Saints of this name: St. Gregoire le Thaumaturge L'Illuminateur; St.Gregoire Palamas, as well as St.Gregoire le Grand. Many Popes have been named Gregoire, and have later been beatified.

François Gregoire, born in 1665, son of Theophile and Madeleine (née Clemence), was a French surgeon that settled in Quebec in the 17th century. He married Mathurine Belanger, daughter of François and Marie (née Guyon), at Pointe-aux-Trembles on 26th April 1688. He married again at Sainte-Foy to Marie-Anne Lienard, daughter of Sebastien and Françoise (née Pelletier), on 31st October 1701. 1

Early History of the Degregoire family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Degregoire research. The years 1817, 1822, 1830, 1837, 1841, 1847 and 1849 are included under the topic Early Degregoire History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Degregoire Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gregoir, Gregoire, Greguer, Greguere, De Gregoire, Degregoire, De Gregoir, Degregoire and many more.

Early Notables of the Degregoire family

Notable amongst the name was Jacques Mathieu Joseph Gregoir, born at Antwerp Jan. 18, 1817, made his first appearance as a pianist in Dussek's B minor Concerto when only eight years old. After the revolution of 1830 he was sent to Paris to study under Herz, but his health obliged him to return to his native country after a few years. Subsequently he went with his brother to Biberich, where he studied with Rummel until 1837, wnen he returned to Antwerp...
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Degregoire Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Degregoire family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Francois Gregoire who arrived in Quebec in 1685 from Languedoc; as well as Mathurin Gregoire arrived in Quebec in 1669 from Picardy.



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


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