Show ContentsDefournier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Defournier has a long French heritage that first began in southern region of Languedoc. The name is derived from when the family lived in Languedoc.

Early Origins of the Defournier family

The surname Defournier was first found in Languedoc, where the family held a family seat since ancient times.

Early History of the Defournier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Defournier research. Another 470 words (34 lines of text) covering the years 1271, 1317, 1342, 1452, 1525, 1533, 1575, 1578, 1624, 1630, 1650, 1652, 1709, 1712, 1713, 1768, 1820 and 1830 are included under the topic Early Defournier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Defournier Spelling Variations

Most surnames have experienced slight spelling changes. A son may not chose to spell his name the same way that his father did. Many were errors, many deliberate. During the early development of the French language, a person usually gave his version, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. Prefixes or suffixes varied. They were optional as they passed through the centuries, or were adopted by different branches to signify either a political or religious adherence. Hence, there a many spelling variations of the name Defournier, including Fornier, Forniest, Forniez, Forniée, Fournier, Fournié, de Fournier, Fourney, de Fornier, Forner and many more.

Early Notables of the Defournier family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Jean-François-Gaspard, Viscount Fornier of Clauzelles, Councillor General of Ariège, Deputy of Ariège and a Knight of the Legion of Honour. Honoré Caille, seigneur du Fourny (1630-1713) was a French genealogist.Pierre Simon Fournier, engraver and type-founder, born in Paris Sept. 15, 1712, died there Oct. 8, 1768. He greatly...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Defournier Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Defournier family

Approximately 110 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec. France gave land incentives for 2,000 migrants during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. Migration to New France (Quebec) continued from France until it fell in 1759. In the year 1675 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. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The distinguished family name Defournier has made significant contributions to the culture, arts, sciences and religion of France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Defournier were Martin Forner settled in Philadelphia in 1748; William Forner settled in Philadelphia in 1852; Lewis Forner settled in Philadelphia in 1866; Honoré.



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