Contents [hide]

Ménard History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Ménard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland
Scotland

The Norman Conquest of England of 1066 added many new elements to the already vibrant culture. Among these were thousands of new names. The Ménard name is derived from the Germanic personal name Mainard, which is composed of the elements magin, which means strength, and hard, which means hardy, brave or strong. 1

Two sources note entries in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2 The first notes that " 'Mainardus homo Rogeri Pictavensis,' is mentioned in the Domesday as an under-tenant in Essex and Lincolnshire; and either he or another of the name held Wilts, Hants, and Norfolk, before the Conquest. The early notices of the name are scanty. 'In the hydarium of Henry III. Maynard was certified to hold one hide and half in 'Cherleton' (Charlton), but as the paramountcy of the estate is withheld, no clue is furnished for tracing it to the Domesday lord." 3

The second notes Meinardus uigil in Norfolk in the Domesday Book. 4 Presumably both entries are related but translations from ancient Latin to English are not consistent.

Early Origins of the Ménard family

The surname Ménard was first found in Suffolk at Hoxne, a parish, and the head of a union, in the hundred of Hoxne. "Hoxne Hall, for many generations the residence of the Maynard family. In the north aisle [of the church] is a monument, with a group of figures finely sculptured in marble, to the memory of Sir Thomas Maynard, erected in 1742, by Christopher Stanley, Esq. A school, now in union with the National Society, was founded and endowed by Lord Maynard." 5

"The pedigree of the Viscounts Maynard commences in the 14th century with John Mainard of Axminster in Devonshire, who served in France under the Black Prince, and was appointed Constable of Brest in 1352. Sixth in descent from him we find another John Maynard, sitting in Queen Mary's first Parliament as Burgess for St. Albans, and numbered among thirty-nine stout Protestants who were indicted in the King's Bench for absenting themselves from the House rather than join in accepting the Pope's authority in the realm." 3

Early record were also found in Scotland. "Bishop Robert was about to set the municipal machinery of St. Andrews in motion (c. 1144) he obtained from the king the services of Mainard, a burgess of Berwick: 'Be it known that with the licence of David our king, I have constituted St. Andrews a burgh and that with the king's consent I have made Mainard the Fleming (Matnardum Flandrensem) provost of this burgh'. Robert Mainard was one of the witnesses to a charter by John de Dundemor to the Priory of May in 1260." 6

Early History of the Ménard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ménard research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1577, 1589, 1602, 1611, 1614, 1623, 1635, 1638, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1647, 1653, 1657, 1660, 1662, 1663, 1679, 1684, 1685, 1690, 1699, 1718, 1739, 1740, 1751, 1763, 1769 and 1775 are included under the topic Early Ménard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ménard Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Maynard, Mainard and others.

Early Notables of the Ménard family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Maynard, 1st Baron Maynard (c.1589-1640), an English politician, Lord Lieutenant of Essex (1635-1640), Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire (1640) and Custos Rotulorum of Essex in 1640; William Maynard, 2nd Baron Maynard (1623-1699); Banastre Maynard, 3rd Baron Maynard (c 1642-1718), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Essex (1663-1679); Sir William Maynard, 1st Baronet (1641-1685), an English...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ménard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ménard World Ranking

In the United States, the name Ménard is the 2,543^rd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 7 However, in Canada, the name Ménard is ranked the 203^rd most popular surname with an estimated 18,771 people with that name. 8 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Ménard is the 67^th popular surname. 9 France ranks Ménard as 117^th with 24,891 people. 10

Migration of the Ménard family to Ireland

Some of the Ménard family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ménard migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Ménard or a variant listed above were:

Ménard Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jean Menard, who landed in Louisiana in 1718-1724 11
Simon Menard, aged 25, who landed in Louisiana in 1718-1724 11
Jean Menard, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 11
Louis Menard, aged 35, who arrived in Louisiana in 1720 11
Rene Menard, who settled in Louisiana between 1725 and 1727
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ménard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jean Menard, who settled in New Orleans, at the age of 24
M. Menard, who arrived in New Orleans in 1821 at the age of 28
M. Menard, who settled with his son in New Orleans, in 1823
Michel B Menard, aged 25, who landed in Texas in 1829 11

Ménard migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ménard Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Mr. Jacques Ménard, French settler travelling to Canada for work arriving on 15th April 1642 12
Mr. Louis Ménard, French settler travelling to Canada for work arriving on 17th May 1642 12
Jacques Menard, son of Jean and Anne, who married Catherine Fortier, daughter of Jean and Julienne, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec on 19th November 1657 13
M. Menard, who arrived in Montreal in 1660
Jacques Menard, son of Jean and Marie-Louise, who married Marie-Madeleine Baugy, daughter of Michel and Madeleine, in Beauport, Quebec on 28th November 1680 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ménard Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Louis Menard, son of Jean and Marthe, who married Geneviève Handgrave, daughter of Pierre and Marie, in Montreal, Quebec on 27th November 1712 13
Jean-Baptiste Menard, son of Jean-Baptiste and Marguerite, who married Thérèse Provost, daughter of Jean and Françoise, in Montreal, Quebec on 17th January 1712 13
Jean Menard, son of Jacques and Marie-Madeleine, who married Françoise Vachon, daughter of Vincent and Louise, in Beauport, Quebec on 11th January 1712 13
Louis Menard, son of Jean and Élisabeth, who married Marie-Madeleine Brien, daughter of Louis and Suzanne, in Varennes, Quebec on 22nd January 1714 13
Pierre Menard, son of Jacques and Marie-Madeleine, who married Marie-Thérèse Giroux, daughter of Toussaint and Marie-Thérèse, in Beauport, Quebec on 8th November 1717 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ménard (post 1700) +

Susan Menard (d. 2022), American politician, 31st Mayor of Woonsocket, Rhode Island from 1995 to 2009, the first female mayor and longest serving mayor in Woonsocket history
Joan M. Menard (b. 1935), American former politician, Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 1st Bristol and Plymouth District (2000-2011)
Henry William Menard (1920-1986), American geologist, 10th Director of the United States Geological Survey
Doris Leon "D. L." Menard (b. 1932), American songwriter and performer of Cajun music, nicknamed the "Cajun Hank Williams"
John R. Menard Jr. (b. 1940), American entrepreneur and billionaire, founder and owner of Menards, a major Midwestern home improvement chain
Paul Menard (b. 1980), American NASCAR driver
Louis A. Menard Jr., American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 9 aerial victories
L. Jacques Ménard CC OQ, (1946-2020), Canadian academic from Chicoutimi, Quebec, Chancellor of Concordia University from 2011 to 2014
Louis-Nicolas Ménard (1822-1901), French man of letters, known for his early discoveries on collodion
Émile-René Ménard (1861-1930), French painter
... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Ménard Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Manus justa nardus
Motto Translation: A just hand is a precious ointment.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Debien, Gabriel. Liste Des Engagés Pour Le Canada Au XVIIe Siècle. Vol. 6, Laval University, 1952. (Retreived 24th May 2018). Retrieved from https://lebloguedeguyperron.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/130-liste-des-contrats-dengagement-pour-la-nouvelle-france-releves-a-la-rochelle-entre-1634-et-1679/
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.