Ledu History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France

Etymology of Ledu

What does the name Ledu mean?

The surname Ledu is an ancient French name from Brittany. It was a name given to a person who was a person who put on the airs and graces of a Duke, or for a servant who worked in the household of a Duke.

Early Origins of the Ledu family

The surname Ledu was first found in Brittany where they held a family seat in the honor of the seigneurie of Blardais, Busnelaye, and Rouvray.

By the 13th century they also branched to St. Sulspice in Normandy. Members of the Norman branch became seigneurs, and in this region they held a family seat at Duquerie. The family gradually, over the next three or four centuries, moved eastward to île-de-France, to Hainaut and finally to Flanders (Belgium).

In the latter region they held a family seat at Masnuy-St.Pierre, and members of this branch became knights in 1735. In Flanders they were Barons in 1787, just before the revolution, and intermarried with the distinguished family of Miche. In île-de-France they held a family seat at Fontaine. They also acquired estates in Perche, Champagne, Marche, and Gascogne.

Jean Leduc, born in 1624, travelled from Ingre, France to Canada in 1652. After arriving in Quebec he worked as a sawyer and he married Marie Soulinie, born in 1631, on 11th November 1652. The Lords of the Isle of Montreal gave Jean an acre of land on 20th August 1655 and this is where he settled with Marie. Jean and Marie had six children together, all boys, that all have many ancestors with the name Leduc in Canada. 1

Early History of the Ledu family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ledu research. The years 1742 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Ledu History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ledu Spelling Variations

There were a great number of spelling variations in French surnames. One reason for this was the wide variety of cultural influences present in France during the early development of the French language. The many spelling variations of the name include Leduc, Laduc, le Duc, Le Du, Ledu, Le Duc, De Ducé and many more.

Early Notables of the Ledu family

the Barons Leduc of Flanders...
Simon Leduc (1742-1777) was a French composer and violinist...

Ledu Ranking

France, the name Ledu is the 8,311^st most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Ledu family

In 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec. Migration was slow. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the French Acadian presence in the Maritimes had reached 500. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The family name Ledu has made many distinguished contributions in France and New France to the world of science, culture, religion, and education. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Ledu were Jean Leduc who arrived in Saint Omer, Quebec, from Perche on the southern border of Normandy in 1652; Antoine-Pierre Leduc arrived in Quebec from Normandy in 1681.

Sources +

Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/