Gagnon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

France

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The long and noble heritage behind the name of Gagnon first began in medieval France. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, are the most common form of a hereditary surname in France, occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages. Many people, such as the Gagnon family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Gagnon was an occupational name for a farmer or cultivator. Interestingly, the name Gagnon was derived from the Old French word "gagneau," which means to "till" or "cultivate."

Early Origins of the Gagnon family

The surname Gagnon was first found in Bourgogne in the Franche-Comté where this family held a family seat from ancient times in the department of de Saône-et-Loire in the arrondisement of Charolles.

A substantial branch of this name also settled in Perche, just south of Normandy. Of this family, Mathurin, Jean and Pierre, sons of Pierre and Renée (née Roger), were all pioneers to New France when they migrated to Quebec in Canada in the 17th century. 1

Mathurin, born in 1606, married Françoise Goudeau on 30th September 1647. Together they had 15 children. He was buried at Château-Richer in September 1696. Jean, born in 1610, married Marguerite Cochon on 29th July 1640. He was buried at Château-Richer on 2nd April 1670. Pierre, born in 1612, married Vincente Obermare on 14th September 1642. He was buried at Château-Richer on 17th April 1699. 2

Early History of the Gagnon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gagnon research. Another 45 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1600 is included under the topic Early Gagnon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gagnon Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gagnon, Gagnont, Gagnent, Gagnen, Gagnanc and many more.

Early Notables of the Gagnon family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Gagnon of Bourgogne

Gagnon World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gagnon is the 1,135^th most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Gagnon is ranked the 6^th most popular surname with an estimated 85,120 people with that name. 4 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Gagnon is the 2^nd popular surname. 5 France ranks Gagnon as 3,807^th with 1,500 - 2,000 people. 6

Gagnon migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gagnon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Francois Gagnon, who landed in Iroquois County, iii in 1884 7

Gagnon migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gagnon Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Pierre Gagnon, son of Pierre and Marguerite, who married Catherine Daubigeon, daughter of Julie nand Perrine, in La Prairie, Quebec on 19th November 1670 8
Jean Gagnon, son of Jean and Marguerite, who married Marguerite Drouin, daughter of Robert and Marie, in Château-Richer, Quebec on 26th October 1670 8
Olivier Gagnon, son of Louis and Marie, who married Isabelle Pépin, daughter of Antoine and Marie, in Sainte-Famille, Quebec on 8th November 1679 8
Jean Gagnon, who settled in Quebec with his wife Marguerite in 1699
Joseph Gagnon, son of Mathieu and Françoise, who married Marie Cloutier, daughter of Charles and Louise, in Château-Richer, Quebec on 26th January 1699 8

Gagnon Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Pierre Gagnon, who settled in Quebec in 1700
Pierre Gagnon, son of Pierre and Catherine, who married Madeleine Baudreau, daughter of Urbain and Mathurin, in Montreal, Quebec on 21st November 1712 8
Jean Gagnon, who settled in Quebec with his wife, Anne, in 1731
Joseph Gagnon, who settled in Quebec with his wife Marie in 1732
François Gagnon, who settled in Quebec in 1748
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gagnon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Etienne Gagnon settled with his wife, Marie-Josetta, in Quebec in 1811
François Gagnon settled, with his wife Charlotte, in Quebec in 1814

Contemporary Notables of the name Gagnon (post 1700) +

René Arthur Gagnon (1925-1979), American Marine who helped raise the US flag in the famous World War II photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
William L. Gagnon, American Democratic Party politician, Supervisor of Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, 1971-74; Defeated in primary, 1974 9
Richard Gagnon, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State Senate 9th District, 1978 9
Rebecca A. Gagnon, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Berlin 4th Ward; Elected 1938; Elected unopposed 1956 9
Paul M. Gagnon, American politician, U.S. Attorney for New Hampshire, 1994-98 9
Jason Gagnon, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 2004 9
H. A. Gagnon, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Maine State House of Representatives from Aroostook County (11th), 1931-32 9
Francis A. Gagnon, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Killingly; Elected 1932 9
Ferdinand Gagnon, American Democratic Party politician, First Selectman of Putnam, Connecticut, 1950-57 9
Alcide R. Gagnon, American Democratic Party politician, Elected New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Manchester 7th Ward 1938 9
... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)