Show ContentsDes forges History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Des forges family

The surname Des forges was first found in Britanny (Bretagne).

Early History of the Des forges family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Des forges research. The years 1697, 1737, 1746, 1749, 1765, 1888 and 1923 are included under the topic Early Des forges History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Des forges Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Desforges, Desfarges, Des Farges, Des Forges and many more.

Early Notables of the Des forges family

Notable amongst this name at this time was

  • Sister Marie des Anges Des Forges, born in Paris in 1697, who entered the monastery of the Annonciades of Poland...
  • Pierre-Jean-Baptiste-Choudard Des Forges, born in Paris in 1746, wrote theatre pieces and produced many operas and comedy plays...
  • Pierre Des Forges of Etampes was a priest in the eighteenth century and was prominent at the church of Notre-Dame of Etampes...

Des forges Ranking

In France, the name Des forges is the 2,840th most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 1


Canada Des forges migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Des forges Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Etienne Desforges, aged 20, who arrived in Montreal in 1653
  • Jean Desforges, son of Jean and Anne, who married Marie-Marguerite Verdon, daughter of Jean and Marguerite, in Lachine, Quebec on 14th February 1689 2
Des forges Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Etienne Desforges, son of Etienne and Marie, who married Marie Niel, daughter of Pierre and Jacquette, in Quebec on 12th October 1700 2
  • Etienne Desforges married in 1700 in Quebec
  • Genevieve Desforges married in 1710 in Montreal
  • Jean-Baptiste-Claude Desforges, son of Jean and Marie-Marguerite, who married Marie-Madeleine Rivière, daughter of Jacques and Catherine, in Boucherville, Quebec on 3rd November 1722 2
  • Paul Desforges, son of Jean and Marie-Marguerite, who married Marie-Jeanne Tartre, daughter of Guillaume and Barbe, in Montreal, Quebec on 12th July 1726 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Des forges migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Des forges Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Charles Des Forges, aged 18, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gainsborough" in 1878 3
  • Algernon Des Forges, aged 21, a butcher, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gainsborough" in 1878 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Des forges (post 1700) +

  • Dr. Jane F. Desforges (b. 1921), American physician and teacher, recipient of the University School of Medicine's Outstanding Teacher Award for thirteen consecutive years
  • Régine Desforges, French publisher, known for publishing Le Necrophile in 1972
  • Jacques Desforges, French priest and aviation visionary, eponym of the 10830 Desforges, a Eunomian asteroid
  • Pierre-Louis Hus- Desforges (1773-1838), French cellist, conductor and composer
  • Joseph Desforges, French Canadian lawyer in Terrebonne, Quebec in the nineteenth century
  • Emilie-Virginie Desforges (b. 1983), Canadian skiing athlete
  • Fannie Desforges, Canadian athlete from Fournier, Ontario, the second Canadian woman to win a competition in the Red Bull Crashed Ice competition


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  2. Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 3rd November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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