Show ContentsDesbaratte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the Desbaratte family goes back to the Medieval landscape of northern France, to that coastal region known as Normandy. Desbaratte is a habitation name, derived from the place name Barrault, in Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the Desbaratte family

The surname Desbaratte was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where they held a family seat in the village of Charente in the arrondissement de Chatelle Rault. 2

"Formerly the Carmelites were called the Barred Brothers, because of their clothes. Du Cange says that barette is the noun of the verb bareter, to exchange, to trade. Moisy says that in Normandy the name of churn to the churn to make butter is given." 2

Early History of the Desbaratte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Desbaratte research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1658, 1706, 1711, 1804 and 1874 are included under the topic Early Desbaratte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Desbaratte 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 Desbaratte is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Baratte, Barate, Barat, Barrat, Barat, Baraud, Barraud, Barrault, Barault, Bareau, Barreau, Barau, Barrau, Barou, Barrou, Barot, Barrot, Barott, Barrott, Barrotte, Barotte, Barratt, Barrat, Baratt, Barre, Barry, Barrett, Barrette, Barret, Barett, Barrit, Barritt, Barritte, Barre and many more.

Early Notables of the Desbaratte family

Notable amongst the family in this period was Claude Barrat (c. 1658-c.1711), a French notary and a clerk of the court in Placentia (Plaisance), Newfoundland; and Nicolas Barat (died 1706), a French Catholic scholar of Hebrew works. Apollon Marie-Rose Barret was...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Desbaratte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Desbaratte 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 Desbaratte. 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 Desbaratte were Jean Barrette who settled in Quebec from Normandy in 1661; Guillaume Barrette, who settled in Quebec from Normandy in 1662; Andris Barret, who arrived in New York in 1710.



The Desbaratte Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Pour bien desirer
Motto Translation: For wishing well.


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Dionne, N.-E., Les Canadiens-Francais Origine Des Familles. Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 1969. Print


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