Grigneau History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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• France

Early Origins of the Grigneau family

Early History of the Grigneau family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grigneau research. The years 1630, 1632, 1714, 1723, 1748, 1767, 1770, 1773, 1793, 1794, 1829, 1871 and 1912 are included under the topic Early Grigneau History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grigneau 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 Grigneau is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Grignard, Grignon, Grignaud and others.

Early Notables of the Grigneau family

Notable amongst the family in this period was Jacques Grignon, born in Paris in 1630, an engraver of religious subjects and portraits. François Adhémar de Monteil, Comte de Grignan (1632-1714), was a French aristocrat, and Lieutenant-Governor of Provence. Pierre-Clement Grignon, born in 1723, son of Pierre, an alderman, and of Marie-Anne Marisy, established himself, after a solid scientific education in Paris, as master blacksmith in Bayard (Haute-Marne). Louis Grignon, born in 1748, was a general. A rifleman in the regiment of the French Guard in 1767, he served in the...
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Grigneau Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Grigneau 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 Grigneau. 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 Grigneau were 100 individuals who arrived from France onto Canadian shores between 1600 and 1900. Among them were Antoine Grignon, who came to Quebec in 1658; Marie Grignault, who arrived in Quebec in 1662.