Chervait History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France

Family Crest Image (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Early Origins of the Chervait family

The surname Chervait was first found in Languedoc, where this illustrious family held a family seat since ancient times.

This distinguished family were granted noble status in 1460 when Jean de Gervais of Montgrand, from whom seventeen generations originated, carried out an important service to his community. The family formed many alliances with other powerful families and as a result, they prospered and expanded to various provinces. Branching to Poitou, the Gervais of Lafond family was represented since the 13th century in Limousin. To honor their involvement in various regions, the Gervais de Rouville branch were granted the titles of the Lords of Serres, Marouils, Lascours and in 1702, of Rouville.

As this ancient family took part in the conflicts of the times, they used their underground cave as a refuge for Protestants and the Gervais of Rouville families followed the Reformation. In 1733, Jacques de Gervais of Rouville obtained recognition of his nobility by the State Council. Due to their great numbers, members of this family were noted in all walks of life, in the military as well as in the civil service. Celebrated members include a Musketeer of the guard of Louis XVIII in 1814, Magistrates, a Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at Montpellier, a State Councillor and Engineers of bridges.

Jean Gervais, born in 1621, son of Urbain and Jeanne (née Pebise), travelled from Angers, France to Montreal, Quebec in The Great Recruit of 1653. After his arrival in New France, Jean married Anne Archambault, daughter of Jacques and Françoise (née Toureau), on 3rd February 1654. He worked in Quebec as a baker and a land clearer until his death on 12th March 1690 in Montreal. His wife, Anne, passed away on 30th July 1699. ^[1]

Important Dates for the Chervait family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chervait research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1307, 1460, 1702, 1733, and 1814 are included under the topic Early Chervait History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chervait Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gervais, Gervait, Gervaie, Gerver, Gervé, Gervey, Jervey, Jervais, Jervaie, Chervais, Chervait, Cherver and many more.

Early Notables of the Chervait family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Charles-Hubert Gervais (1671-1744), a French composer of the Baroque era. The son of a valet to King Louis XIV's...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chervait Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chervait family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Thomas Gervais settled in Maryland in 1634; Pierre Gervais settled in Louisiana in 1756; Charles Nicholas D. Gervais settled in Philadelphia in 1799; and Henry Gervais settled in Philadelphia in 1860..