Leberge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• France

Etymology of Leberge

The name Leberge was first used by a family in the southwestern French region called Gascogne. It was a name for someone who lived near a rocky hill, deriving its origin from the Old French word berge, meaning rocky hill or mountain, and indicates that the original bearer of the name lived near such a landform.

Early Origins of the Leberge family

Early History of the Leberge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leberge research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1385, 1650 and 1810 are included under the topic Early Leberge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leberge Spelling Variations

Changes of spelling have occurred in most surnames. The earliest explanation is that during the early development of the French language, names were not yet fixed in spelling. Usually a person gave his version of his name, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. This depended on accent, and local accents frequently changed the spelling of a name. Some variables were adopted by different branches of the family name. Hence, there are some spelling variations of the name Leberge, including Laberge, La Berge, de Berge, de la Berge, Desberges, de Berghes and many more.

Early Notables of the Leberge family

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

Migration of the Leberge 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 Leberge 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 Leberge were Robert de La Berge, who settled in New France, at the age of 20. He spent most of his life in Ange Gardien, near the city of Quebec, where he established himself as a manufacturer and vendor of lime. He died in 1712 leaving behind him numerous and illustrious descendants throughout French Canada. Louis Berge settled in Louisiana in 1718.