Robillard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

French settlers came early to North American, following in the wake of the explorers, and creating New France. Quebec City, founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain is said to have been the first American site founded as a permanent settlement, rather than as just a commercial outpost. But emigration was slow, in 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 French people in Quebec, and by 1663, when the region was officially made The Royal Colony of New France, by Louis XIV, there still only around 500 settlers. Over 2,000 would arrive 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 immigrants, both noble and commoner from France. By 1675, there were around 7000 French in the colony, and by that 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. Despite the loss of the Colony to England, the French people flourished in Lower Canada. Among settlers to North America of the Robillard surname were

Robillard Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• A. Robillard, aged 42, originally from Paris, who arrived in New York in 1905 aboard the ship "La Bretagne" from Havre, France 5
• Celina Robillard, aged 25, originally from Bully Grenay, France, who arrived in New York City, New York in 1919 aboard the ship "La Touraine" from Havre, France 5
• Paule Robillard, aged 19, originally from France, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "France" from Le Havre, France 5
• Marie Robillard, aged 51, originally from Prest, France, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "France" from Le Havre, France 5
• Leon Robillard, aged 19, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Lafayette" from Le Havre, France 5

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Robillard Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

• Claude Robillard who emigrated from Brittany to Quebec in 1664

Robillard Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Claude Robillard, son of Claude and Marie, who married Angélique Cécire, daughter of Claude and Marie, in Lachine, Quebec on 17th October 1701 6
• Nicolas Robillard, son of Claude and Marie, who married Françoise Cécire, daughter of Claude and Marie, in Lachine, Quebec on 28th April 1709 6
• Joseph Robillard, son of Claude and Marie, who married Marguerite Basinet, daughter of Antoine and Françoise, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 20th April 1711 6
• Pierre Robillard, son of Claude and Marie, who married Thérèse Colin, daughter of Mathurin and Jacqueline, in Saint-Sulpice, Quebec on 25th June 1714 6
• Joseph Robillard, son of Joseph and Marguerite, who married Marie-Louise Delpé, daughter of François and Marie-Anne, in Repentigny, Quebec on 11th January 1734 6
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Michael Jihn 'Duke" Robillard (b. 1948), American blues guitarist and singer, co-founder of the band Roomful of Blues
• Harrison H. Robillard, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1932, 1936 7
• Charles Harry Robillard, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Richmond County 1st District, 1935 7
• Gene Robillard (1929-2007), Canadian CFL football quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes (1952) and the BC Lions (1954)
• Lucienne Robillard (b. 1945), Canadian politician, Member of the Canadian Parliament for Westmount-Ville-Marie (1997-2008)
• Honoré Robillard (1835-1914), Canadian politician, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Russell from 1883 to 1886, brother of Alexander Robillard
• Alexander Robillard (1843-1907), Canadian politician, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Russell from 1886 to 1898
• Melanie Robillard (b. 1982), Canadian curler, winner of the gold medal at the 2008 European Mixed Curling Championship