France
GermanyThe proud French name Besnard originated in Provence, a geographical region and historical province of southeastern France.
The surname Besnard was first found in Provence at Bénar, the ancient capital of Provence. [1]
Ironically, one of the first listings for the family was found not in France, but in England. For it is there, that John Bannard ( fl. 1412), was an Augustinian friar at Oxford. "According to Wood he flourished about 1412, and is stated to have been professor of theology, and afterwards Chancellor of the University. " [2]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Besnard research. Another 34 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1573, 1666, 1789, 1807, 1808, and 1844 are included under the topic Early Besnard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Changes of spelling have occurred in most surnames. The earliest explanation is that during the early development of the French language, names were not yet fixed in spelling. Usually a person gave his version of his name, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. This depended on accent, and local accents frequently changed the spelling of a name. Some variables were adopted by different branches of the family name. Hence, there are some spelling variations of the name Besnard, including Benard, Bénard, Benar, Bénar, Besnard, Bésnard, De Bénard and many more.
Notable amongst the family in this period was Laurent Bénard, the prior at Cluny College who was born in 1573 in Nevers, France. He wrote at least five works during his lifetime. The De Bénard family owned much land, property and manors, and members of this family were barons of Sauveterre (in Blaisois), and also held the title of Lords of Ligny and of Arville. From this family...
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Besnard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Besnard migration to Canada +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 Besnard surname were
Besnard migration to New Zealand +
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