Show ContentsDafoe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Dafoe family

The surname Dafoe was first found in Allassac in Limousin where the family held a family seat before the 12th century with lands and estates.

One of the first records was Vital du Four (1260-1327), a French Franciscan theologian and scholastic philosopher. He rose to become Cardinal in 1312 and bishop of Albano in 1321. He died in Avignon in 1327.

Early History of the Dafoe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dafoe research. Another 514 words (37 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1324, 1340, 1400, 1404, 1438, 1448, 1460, 1492, 1514, 1552, 1570, 1604, 1660, 1670, 1672 and 1693 are included under the topic Early Dafoe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dafoe Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dufour, du Four, Dufourg, Dufourc, Dufoure, Dufur, Duffour, Duffourg, Duffur, Duffoure, Dufoure, Dufaure, du Faure, DuFaur, Duffaur, Duffare, Duffure and many more.

Early Notables of the Dafoe family

Notable amongst the family was Tristan II Du Faur or Dufour, Baron of Saint-Jory, Count de Bioulle de Leou, lieutenant of the Duke d'Orleans corps, colonel of the regiment of Cornette Blance, Chevalier of Saint-Louis.François Dufault or Dufaut (before 1604-ca...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dafoe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Dafoe migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dafoe Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Cpl. Abraham Dafoe U.E. (b. 1754) born in Albany County, New York, USA from Albany County, New York, USA who settled in Bath, Ernestown Township, Ontario, Upper Canada c. 1784 then Fredericksburgh Township [Greater Napanee], Cataraqui Township, Ontario he enlisted in 1777 served in Rogers Rangers, Captain Harry Ruiter's 3rd Company, General Burgoyne's Company married to Katreen Diamond c. 1776 they had 5 children, he died in 1815 Fredericksburgh, Ontario 1
  • Mr. Conrad Dafoe U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 1
  • Mr. Daniel Dafoe U.E., "Daniel Defoe" who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1784 1
  • Mr. John Dafoe U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 1
  • Mr. Abraham Dafoe U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 1
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dafoe (post 1700) +

  • Willem Dafoe (b. 1955), stage name of William James Dafoe, American four-time Academy Award nominated and Screen Actors Guild nominated film and stage actor, known for Spider-Man, The Florida Project, At Eternity's Gate, The Lighthouse and many more
  • Marie M. Dafoe, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1927 2
  • Lemuel Grant Dafoe (1857-1946), American Republican politician, Postmaster at Alpena, Michigan, 1898-1906; Mayor of Alpena, Michigan, 1910-14; Defeated, 1914, 1916 2
  • Charles A. Dafoe, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Nebraska 1st District, 1940 2
  • Albert N. Dafoe, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Nebraska State House of Representatives 5th District, 1915 2
  • Frances Dafoe Dafoe CM, O.Ont (1929-2016), Canadian pair skater with two World Figure Skating Championships
  • Byron Dafoe (b. 1971), Canadian former National Hockey League goaltender
  • Colin Scott Dafoe (1909-1969), Canadian surgeon during the Second World War
  • Frances Dafoe Dafoe CM, O.Ont (1929-2016), Canadian pair skater with two World Figure Skating Championships


  1. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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