L'heureux History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
From the historical and enchanting region of France emerged a multitude of notable family names, including that of the distinguished L'heureux family. Originally, the people in this region went by one (personal) name. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. These names then began to become "fixed" or hereditary between the generations. One of the types of names adopted as surnames were those derived from nicknames. Nicknames, or "eke-names," were an added name that generally reflected some physical characteristics or other attribute of the person that used the name. The L'heureux surname derives from the Old French word "rous," meaning "red," or "red-haired;" and as such was a nickname for someone with red hair, or perhaps for a person with a ruddy or reddish complexion, or who dressed habitually in the colour red.
Early Origins of the L'heureux family
The surname L'heureux was first found in Périgord, where this impressive family held a family seat since ancient times. Another branch of the family held lands near Rouen in Normandy since 1165. Ralph le Roux was sent in 1119 by Henry I to the aid of Ralph de Guader and in 1120 was one of the nobles who died with Prince Henry in the Blanche. The English line descends from Turchil Rufus or Le Rous, who landed in England in 1066 and held lands in Norfolk. 1
A later English branch was found at Imber in Wiltshire. "The church [of Imber] is an ancient structure, in the early and decorated English styles, with some relics of Norman detail, and contains two monuments with the recumbent effigies of Knights Templars of the family of Le Rouse, chamberlains to Henry II and Edward III." 2
Early History of the L'heureux family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our L'heureux research. Another 301 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1372, 1389, 1404, 1429, 1555, 1631, 1660, 1668, 1707, 1788, 1814 and 1829 are included under the topic Early L'heureux History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
L'heureux Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Leroux, Lerout, Lerou, Leroulx, Leroud, Lerous, de Roux, Lerou, Laroux, La Roux, La Rou, La Rous and many more.
Early Notables of the L'heureux family
More information is included under the topic Early L'heureux Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
L'heureux World Ranking
In the United States, the name L'heureux is the 5,703rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3 However, in Quebec, Canada, the name L'heureux is ranked the 425th most popular surname. 4 And in France, the name L'heureux is the 1,496th popular surname with an estimated 3,907 people with that name. 5
L'heureux migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
L'heureux Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Maxime L'Heureux, aged 23, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "La Savoie" from Le Havre, France 6
- Pierre L'Heureux, aged 31, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Patria" from Marseilles, France 6
- Maxime L'Heureux, aged 23, who arrived in New York City, New York in 1920 aboard the ship "La Savoie" from Le Havre, France 6
Contemporary Notables of the name L'heureux (post 1700) +
- Patrice L'Heureux (1972-2018), Canadian professional boxer who died of a heart attack on 7 October 2018 at the age of 46
- Yvon L'Heureux (1914-1984), Canadian Liberal party member of the Canadian House of Commons for Chambly-Rouville (1957-1958)
- Claire L'Heureux -Dubé CC, GOQ (b. 1927), Canadian jurist, Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada (1987-2002)
- Ginette L'Heureux, Canadian administrator and former politician in Montreal
Citations +
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- "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/
- Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result