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Gervais History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Gervais History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

Early Origins of the Gervais family

The surname Gervais was first found in Languedoc, where this illustrious family held a family seat since ancient times.

This distinguished family were granted noble status in 1460 when Jean de Gervais of Montgrand, from whom seventeen generations originated, carried out an important service to his community. The family formed many alliances with other powerful families and as a result, they prospered and expanded to various provinces. Branching to Poitou, the Gervais of Lafond family was represented since the 13th century in Limousin. To honor their involvement in various regions, the Gervais de Rouville branch were granted the titles of the Lords of Serres, Marouils, Lascours and in 1702, of Rouville.

As this ancient family took part in the conflicts of the times, they used their underground cave as a refuge for Protestants and the Gervais of Rouville families followed the Reformation. In 1733, Jacques de Gervais of Rouville obtained recognition of his nobility by the State Council. Due to their great numbers, members of this family were noted in all walks of life, in the military as well as in the civil service. Celebrated members include a Musketeer of the guard of Louis XVIII in 1814, Magistrates, a Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at Montpellier, a State Councillor and Engineers of bridges.

Jean Gervais, born in 1621, son of Urbain and Jeanne (née Pebise), travelled from Angers, France to Montreal, Quebec in The Great Recruit of 1653. After his arrival in New France, Jean married Anne Archambault, daughter of Jacques and Françoise (née Toureau), on 3rd February 1654. He worked in Quebec as a baker and a land clearer until his death on 12th March 1690 in Montreal. His wife, Anne, passed away on 30th July 1699. 1

Early History of the Gervais family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gervais research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1307, 1671 and 1744 are included under the topic Early Gervais History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gervais Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gervais, Gervait, Gervaie, Gerver, Gervé, Gervey, Jervey, Jervais, Jervaie, Chervais, Chervait, Cherver and many more.

Early Notables of the Gervais family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

Charles-Hubert Gervais (1671-1744), a French composer of the Baroque era...

Gervais World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gervais is the 6,036^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Gervais is ranked the 248^th most popular surname with an estimated 16,388 people with that name. 3 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Gervais is the 146^th popular surname. 4 France ranks Gervais as 336^th with 11,930 people. 5

Gervais migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gervais Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Gervais who settled in Maryland in 1634

Gervais Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Pierre Gervais, who settled in Louisiana in 1756
Charles Nicholas D. Gervais, who settled in Philadelphia in 1799

Gervais Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Gervais, who settled in Philadelphia in 1860
Edmond Gervais, aged 32, who settled in America from Paris, in 1899

Gervais Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Armand Gervais, aged 22, who landed in America from Paris, in 1905
Eleonore Gervais, aged 4, who landed in America from S. Paul, France, in 1908
Agnes Gervais, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States from France, in 1908
Georges Gervais, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States from Bordeaux, France, in 1918
Gaspard Gervais, aged 47, who settled in America from Paris, France, in 1919
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gervais migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gervais Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Jehan Gervais, who landed in Montreal in 1653
Pierre Gervais, son of Pierre and Marie, who married Marie-Anne Blain, daughter of Etienne and Gatienne, in Quebec on 19th October 1665 6
René Gervais, son of Martin and Perrette, who married Marie Jousselot, daughter of Pierre and Ozanne, in Quebec on 10th November 1669 6
Marin Gervais, son of Julien and Nicole, who married Françoise Monvoisin, daughter of Jean and Catherine, in Sainte-Famille, Quebec on 16th October 1672 6
Mathieu Gervais, son of Pierre and Catherine, who married Michelle Picard, daughter of Hugues and Antoinette, in Montreal, Quebec on 31st August 1676 6

Gervais Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Jean-Baptiste Gervais, son of Charles and Jacquette, who married Marie-Jeanne Tessier, daughte rof Mathurin and Élisabeth, in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, Quebec on 9th January 1700 6
Jacques Gervais, son of René and Marie, who married Madeleine Dasylva, daughter of Pierre and Jeanne, in Quebec on 15th November 1700 6
Jean-Mathieu Gervais, son of Mathieu and Michelle, who married Jeanne-Françoise Ronseray, daughter of Jean and Jeanne, in Montreal, Quebec on 11th June 1708 6
Mathieu Gervais, son of Mathieu and Michelle, who married Marie-Josephte Robidou, daughter of Joseph and Jeanne, in La Prairie, Quebec on 30th October 1719 6
Pierre Gervais, son of Mathieu and Michelle, who married Catherine Plante, daughter of Claude and Marie, in La Prairie, Quebec on 30th October 1719 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gervais Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

J. Horace Gervais, aged 34, who immigrated to Montreal, Canada, in 1912

Contemporary Notables of the name Gervais (post 1700) +

Ricky Dene Gervais (b. 1961), British seven-time BAFTA, two-time Emmy Award and three-time Golden Globe winning, comedian, actor, director and producer
Paul Gervais (b. 1946), American novelist and garden-designer, his novel, Extraordinary People, was nominated for the PEN/ Faulkner Award for Fiction in 1992
John Lewis Gervais (1741-1798), German-born, American planter and statesman from South Carolina who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1782 and 1783
Paul Gervais, American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for Presidential Elector for California, 1972 7
Edward H. Gervais, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Wisconsin, 1944 7
Jacques Gervais, Baron Subervie, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 8
Henri Louis Jean Gervais, French Prefect of Eure-et-Loire, Officer of the Legion of Honour
Marcel André Joseph Gervais (1931-2023), Canadian Roman Catholic prelate, Auxiliary Bishop of London from 1980 to 1985, Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario from 1985 to 1989, and Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall from 1989 to 2007
Michel Gervais OC OQ (1944-2022), Canadian academic, 22nd Rector of Université Laval from 1987 to 1997
Gaétan Gervais (1944-2018), Canadian author, historian and professor from Sudbury, Ontario
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) Jacques Gervais. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html