Show ContentsGiroux History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Giroux family

The surname Giroux was first found in Languedoc where this celebrated family held a family seat from ancient times.

This noble family acquired the title of Marquis de Vessey under Philippe Giroux, aide-de-camp of the armies of the King, in the late 1600's. A branch of the family formed during the 1700's and distinctive members from this branch were three colonels of the cavalry, Knights of Saint-Louis and consuls of Rodez. As a result of branching to various provinces, the spelling of the family name changed according to different pronunciations throughout France. At the time of the French Revolution, many members of this family are recorded because of their active role in the political changes that surrounded this event.

Distinctive among these members was Étienne Giroult, an Administrator and Legislator, who was elected as a Deputy to the Legislature on September 10, 1791, and who voted with the minority. Consequently, he was branded a counter-revolutionary and was wanted by the police. Étienne hid in a Church to avoid being arrested, but he was found there and jumped off the top of the church before being charged by the police.

Toussaint Giroux, born in 1636, son of Jean and Marguerite (née Quilleron), arrived in Canada from Perche, France on 29th September 1654. In Quebec he worked as a weaver and a land clearer. He married Marie Godard in 1654 and together they had twelve children. After Marie's death, Toussaint remarried to Thérèse Leblanc in Beauport, Quebec on 29th October 1686. 1

Early History of the Giroux family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Giroux research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1464, 1590, 1610, 1628, 1667, 1711 and 1724 are included under the topic Early Giroux History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Giroux Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Giroux, Giroulx, Giroud, Girous, Girout, Giroult, Giroust, Girou, Geroux, Geroulx, Gerrou, Jiroux, Jeroux, Gurule and many more.

Early Notables of the Giroux family

More information is included under the topic Early Giroux Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Giroux World Ranking

In the United States, the name Giroux is the 4,448th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Giroux is ranked the 193rd most popular surname with an estimated 19,089 people with that name. 3 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Giroux is the 89th popular surname. 4 France ranks Giroux as 1,214th with 4,601 people. 5


Giroux migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Giroux Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jacques Giroux, who settled in Louisiana in 1756

Giroux migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Giroux Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Giroux, who landed in Quebec in 1634
  • Toussaint Giroux, son of Jean and Marguerite, who married Marie Godard in Quebec on 29th September 1654 6
  • Jean Giroux, son of Jean and Anne, who married Madeleine Des Chalets, daughter of françois and Jacqueline, in Quebec on 3rd September 1668 6
  • Raphael Giroux, son of Toussaint and Marie, who married Marie-Madeleine Vachon, daughter of Paul and Marguerite, in Beauport, Quebec on 26th November 1681 6
  • Michel Giroux, son of Toussaint and Marie, who married Thérèse Provost, daughter of Martin and Marie-Olivier, in Beauport, Quebec on 18th August 1683 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Giroux Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Louis Giroux, son of Michel and Thérèse, who married Marie-Angélique Garnier, daughter of Charles and Louise, in L'Ange-Gardien, Quebec on 11th May 1705 6
  • Noel Giroux, son of Michel and Thérèse, who married Françoise-Marguerite Gallien, daughter of Robert and Anne, in Beauport, Quebec on 22nd November 1707 6
  • Joseph-Noel Giroux, son of Raphael and Marie-Madeleine, who married Geneviève Cadieu, daughter of Jean-Charles and Marie-Madeleine, in Beauport, Quebec on 22nd June 1711 6
  • Pierre-François Giroux, son of Raphael and Marie-Madeleine, who married Marie-Angélique Maheu, daughter of Charles and Marie-Charlotte, in Beauport, Quebec on 5th February 1714 6
  • Raphael Giroux, son of Raphael and Marie-Madeleine, who married Marie Maillou, daughter of Noel and Louse, in Beauport, Quebec on 16th November 1716 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Giroux Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Maurice Giroux, who settled in the parish of Saint-Laurent, Quebec, in 1811
  • Jean-Baptiste Giroux settled with his wife, Victoire, in the parish of Saint-Pierre, Quebec, in 1886

Contemporary Notables of the name Giroux (post 1700) +

  • Julie Ann Giroux (b. 1961), American Emmy Award winning composer
  • Robert Giroux (1914-2008), American book editor and publisher
  • William K. Giroux, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 10 aerial victories
  • André Giroux (1801-1879), French photographer and landscape art and Genre painter
  • Auguste Giroux, French rugby union player
  • Roland Giroux CC (1913-1991), Canadian Chairman of the Quebec Hydro-Electric Commission (Hydro-Québec) from 1969 to 1977
  • Michelle Giroux (b. 1975), Canadian stage, television and film actress, best known for her many roles at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival over nine seasons
  • Leonidas Alcidas Giroux (1885-1936), Canadian politician, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta (1924-1936)
  • Mathieu Giroux (b. 1986), Canadian gold and silver medalist speed-skater
  • Lionel Giroux (1935-1995), Canadian midget wrestler, best known by his ring name Little Beaver
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  4. "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
  5. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  6. Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.


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