Lapierre History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Lapierre is from the Languedoc region of southern France, it came from the ancient Greek personal name, Petros and the Biblical name, Peter, meaning "rock."
Early Origins of the Lapierre family
The surname Lapierre was first found in Languedoc where this impressive family held a family seat since ancient times.
The family expanded, prospered and established the branches of the Lords of Saint Marcel, of Nîmes and of Bernis-Calvière. Bertrand III De Pierre was married four times, first in 1540 to Jeanne De Chalancon-Polignac, second to Christine De Geys in 1548, third to Guisette Duranc De Vibrac in 1550, and finally to Louis D'Artfeld in 1557. An important member of the military, Jean II, Lord of Bernis, was the mestre de camp (Commander of a cavalry regiment) under Henri IV during the 1500's. His son, Jean-Jacques, Lord of Bernis, commanded the Phalsbourg regiment, but he was killed at the Fontanette battle in Milanais in the 1600's. Descending from Jean, Joachim De Pierre, Lord of St-Marcel and of Bernis, was a Captain of the Cavalry and, in 1697, he married Marie-Elisabeth Du Chastel, daughter of Christophe, Baron of Condres, and of Louise Du Chastel, Baroness of Châteauneuf.
A decorated member of the military, François De Pierre, Lord of Loubatière, was a Captain of the Montconseil regiment who received the Grand-Cross of Saint-Jean of Jerusalem in the 1700's. One of the most remarkable members of the family, Pons-Simon, Viscount of Bernis, then Marquis of Pierre-Bernis, started off as a King's Page, then he became the Captain of the King's Dragoons. He continued to receive promotions: in 1771, Commander of the Dragoons; in 1776, Colonel of the Soissonais regiment; in 1784, Brigadier of the King's armies; in 1788, Camp Marshal of the King's armies, and then Baron of the Estates of Languedoc and of Albigeois. Many other members of the family received important honours for their military and civil services, but they are too numerous to list.
Pierre Lapierre, born in 1656, son of Blaise and Jeanne of St.Martin, travelled from France to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in the Canadian province of Quebec he married Marie Gaudin, born on 29th April 1662, daughter of Charles and Marie, at Ange-Gardien on 8th October 1687. 1
Early History of the Lapierre family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lapierre research. Another 216 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1000, 1116, 1200, 1217, 1286, 1380 and 1462 are included under the topic Early Lapierre History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Lapierre Spelling Variations
The many different spellings of French surnames can be partially explained by the use of local dialects and by the influence of other languages during the early development of the French language. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Lapierre is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Pierre, Pierres, De Pierre, De Pierres, Pyerre, Pyerres, De Pyerre, De Pyerres, Lapierre, Lapierres, La Pierre, La Pierres, La Pyerre, La Pyerres, Lanphere, Lanpher, Lanphier and many more.
Early Notables of the Lapierre family
More information is included under the topic Early Lapierre Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Lapierre World Ranking
In the United States, the name Lapierre is the 5,336th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Lapierre is ranked the 322nd most popular surname with an estimated 13,887 people with that name. 3 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Lapierre is the 115th popular surname. 4 France ranks Lapierre as 704th with 6,864 people. 5
Lapierre migration to the United States +
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 the treaty of Utrecht, the Acadians were ceded by France to Britain in 1713. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported. They found refuge in Louisiana. In 1793, the remaining French in these provinces came under British rule. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many of this distinguished family name Lapierre were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Lapierre were
Lapierre Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Jean Jacques LaPierre, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 6
- Michel Lapierre, who arrived in South Carolina in 1755 6
- Michell Lapierre, who landed in South Carolina in 1755-1756 6
- Magdelaine LaPierre, who landed in South Carolina in 1763 6
- Francois LaPierre, who arrived in South Carolina in 1763 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lapierre Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Antonio Lapierre, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1868 6
Lapierre Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Eugene Lapierre, aged 31, who landed in America from Colmare France, in 1901
- Jean Lapierre, aged 51, who landed in America from San Juan, in 1905
- Julienne Lapierre, aged 21, who settled in America from Dorignie, France, in 1907
- Emile Lapierre, aged 54, who immigrated to the United States from Paris, France, in 1908
- Mrs. Rene Lapierre, aged 30, who settled in America from Paris, France, in 1908
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lapierre migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Lapierre Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
- Pierre LaPierre, who arrived in Montreal in 1653
- Pierre Lapierre, who landed in Montreal in 1659
Lapierre Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Yves Lapierre, son of Jean and Jeanne, who married Louise Allaire, daughter of François and Marie-Madeleine, in Sorel, Quebec on 14th February 1743 7
- Joseph Lapierre, son of Jean and Anne-Charlotte, who married Marie-Amable Martineau, daughter of Pierre and Madeleine, in Sault-au-Récollet, Quebec on 24th November 1755 7
- François Lapierre, son of Jean-François and Madeleine, who married Louise Robin, daugher of Joseph and Louise, in Sainte-Rose, Quebec on 26th February 1759 7
- Thomas Lapierre, son of Thomas and Madeleine, who married Élisabeth Bouchard, daughter of Ignace and Jeanne, in Bertheir, Quebec on 13th January 1766 7
- Pierre LaPierre, aged 29, who arrived in St Pierre and Miquelon in 1767
Lapierre Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
- Miska LaPierre, aged 28, who settled in Montreal, Canada, in 1908
- Joseph Lapierre, aged 29, who settled in Buckingham, Canada, in 1914
- Paul Lapierre, aged 32, who settled in Montreal, Canada, in 1918
Contemporary Notables of the name Lapierre (post 1700) +
- Dominique Lapierre (1931-2022), French author from Châtelaillon, Charente-Maritime, France
- Nicolas Lapierre (b. 1984), French race car driver
- Michel Lapierre (1953-2023), Canadian writer and journalist, he was awarded a medal from the Montreal Historical Society
- Jean-Charles Lapierre (1956-2016), Canadian television broadcaster and politician, Member of Parliament for Shefford (1979-1993), Member of Parliament for Outremont (2004-2007), killed in a plane that crashed on approach to Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport
- Odette Lapierre (b. 1955), Canadian Olympic long-distance runner
- Maxim Lapierre (b. 1985), Canadian NHL hockey player
- Fabrice Lapierre (b. 1983), Australian Commonwealth Games long jumper
- Edmond Anthony Lapierre (1866-1960), Canadian politician, member of the Canadian House of Commons (1921-1930)
The Lapierre Motto +
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Armé pour le roi
Motto Translation: Armed for the king
Citations +
- Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
- "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/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.