Grenier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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France

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During the Middle Ages, the surname of Grenier was used in 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 Grenier 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 Grenier derives from the Old French word "grenier" and was an occupational name for a worker at a mill or granary.

Early Origins of the Grenier family

The surname Grenier was first found in île-de-France in the seigneurie of where they have held a family seat since ancient times.

The family later branched to Languedoc and Haute-Auvergne where Antoine Grenier de Lassagne is mentioned at Vaour in 1450. Branching once again, a family of gentleman glass makers, also related to ancient champion swordsmen, established themselves at Perigord.

Arnaud Grenier acquired Nabinaud in the parish of Pizou on 3rd October 1564 and with the added responsibilities of his nobility, he was relieved of his duties of the fiefs. Daniel, his son, became a captain January 1585. Guy, Daniel's son, was a gentleman cavalier and the Lord of Nabinaud and he married Rachel du Bruel in 1619. Daniel, Lord of Nabinaud and of Capejou had his nobility confirmed by a judgement from the court of tax disputes of Guyenne on 23rd February 1664. François Grenier de Pleaux and de la Borie was a famous chief of a political league. His descendant, Louis, marquis of Pleaux, married Marie de Montclar in 1711.

The Grenier de Moulon and de Sanxet family of Guyenne and Périgord received their rank of nobility in 1700 and their status was maintained in 1740. Branching once again, this time to Auvergne, Benoit, judge of Langeac, had a son, Jean, who was a Baron of the Empire in 1811. Antoine Grenier de Ruère, Jean's nephew, was the grand-father of Emile who married Julie Choriot de Ruère in 1882 and their son was adopted by Antoine of Ruère, his maternal uncle.

Charles Grenier, born in 1636, son of Guillaume, Sieur of Bois-Fontaine, and Françoise, Dame of Challeu of Tournebu, travelled from Normandy, France to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in Quebec he married Marie-Louise Vezina, daughter of Jacques and Marie (née Bouaselon), on 21st December 1664. They remained together in Quebec until Charles passed away at Beauport on 6th February 1717. 1

Early History of the Grenier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grenier research. The year 1252 is included under the topic Early Grenier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grenier Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Grenier, Grenie, Grenyer, Grenye, Greniait, Greniai, Greniaie, Greniay, Greniez, Grenyait, Grenyai, Grenyaie, Grenyay, Grenyez, Chenier, Chenie, Chenyer, Chenye, Cheniait, Cheniai, Cheniaie, Cheniay, Cheniez, Chenyait, Chenyai, Chenyaie, Chenyay, Chenyez, Grennier, Grennie, Grennyer, Grennye, Grenniait, Grenniai, Grenniaie, Grenniay, Grenniez, Grennyait, Grennyai, Grennyaie, Grennyay, Grennyez, Chennier, Chennie, Chennyer, Chennyer, Chenniait, Chenniai, Chenniaie, Cheniay, Chenniez, Chennyait, Chennyai, chennyaie, Chennyay and many more.

Early Notables of the Grenier family

Notable amongst the family was

Arivaud Grenier of Nabinaud

Grenier World Ranking

In the United States, the name Grenier is the 3,224^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Grenier is ranked the 126^th most popular surname with an estimated 24,736 people with that name. 3 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Grenier is the 38^th popular surname. 4 France ranks Grenier as 393^rd with 10,770 people. 5

Grenier migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Grenier Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Antoine Grenier who settled with his wife in Virginia in 1621

Grenier Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Louis Grenier, who settled in Louisiana in 1752

Grenier Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Andrew Grenier who settled in Georgia
Juan Grenier, aged 48, settled in New Orleans in 1823

Grenier migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Grenier Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

François Grenier, son of François and Antoinette, who married Jacqueline Freslon, daughter of René and Renée, in Sillery, Quebec on 9th January 1663 6
Charles Grenier, son of Guillaume and Françoise, who married Louise Vésina, daughter of Jacques and Marie, in Quebec on 21st December 1664 6
Jean Grenier, son of Jean and Marie, who married Madeleine Le Guay, daughter of Rolin and Anne, in Quebec on 6th November 1668 6
Julien Grenier, son of Michel and Julienne, who married Geneviève Hubou, daughter of Mathieu and Suzanne, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 29th October 1675 6
Michel Grenier, son of Mathurin and Sébastienne, who married Marie Langlois, daughter of Mathias and Jeanne, in Champlain, Quebec on 20th September 1680 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grenier Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Etienne Grenier, son of François and Jacqueline, who married Françoise Bergeron, daughter of André and Marguerite, in Saint-Nicolas, Quebec on 5th October 1700 6
Jean Grenier, son of Jean and Madeleine, who married Agnès Liénard, daughter of Sébastien and Françoise, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 19th August 1704 6
Pierre Grenier, son of Charles and Jeanne-Angélique, who married Madeleine Tessier, daughter of Mathieu and Marguerite, in Beauport, Quebec on 15th January 1714 6
Charles Grenier, son of Charles and Angélique, who married Catherine Giroux, daughter of Jean and Suzanne, in Beauport, Quebec on 25th November 1720 6
Joseph Grenier, son of Joseph and Jeanne, who married Margerite Chrétien, daughter of Jean-Charles and Marguerite, in Charlesbourg, Quebec on 23rd November 1722 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grenier migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Grenier Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Grenier, Australian settler travelling from Port Phillip Bay, Victoria aboard the ship "Earl Stanhope" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 7
Mrs. Grenier, Australian settler travelling from Port Phillip Bay, Victoria with children aboard the ship "Earl Stanhope" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 7
T Grenier, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841

Contemporary Notables of the name Grenier (post 1700) +

Robert Grenier (b. 1941), American poet
Richard Grenier (1933-2002), American neoconservative cultural columnist
Adrian Grenier (b. 1976), American actor, musician and director
John Edward Grenier (1930-2007), American attorney
Roger Grenier (1919-2017), French writer, journalist and radio animator, Regent of the Collège de ’Pataphysique
Paul Grenier, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 8
Jean Georges Grenier, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 9
Raoul Jean Grenier, Canadian Diplomat, Ambassador to Senegal and Mauritania, Ottawa, Ontario
Martin Grenier (b. 1980), Canadian professional ice hockey player