Show ContentsLetourneau History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Letourneau family

The surname Letourneau was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where this ancient family was established in earlier times.

The members of the family also branched into other regions of France, and there they established alliances with other distinguished families of the day. The branch Le Tourneur formed an important alliance with the Pernes family of Burgundy. Several members of this eminent family distinguished themselves by means of contributions to the society and to their respective communities.

Louis François Letourneur (1751-1817), a French politician, who was an officer before the Revolution, was also a member of the Legislative Assembly in 1791 and of the Convention in 1792, a member of the Committee for Public Safety and of the Military Committee, the director of the Counsel of Seniors (1795-97), a prefect (1800) and a counselor for the Treasury (1810).

David Letourneau, born in 1639, son of David and Sebastienne (née Guery), travelled from France to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in Quebec he married Françoise Chapelain, born in 1646, daughter of Louis and Françoise (née De Chaux), at Château-Richer on 6th June 1664. They remained together in Quebec until Françoise passed away on 13th May 1729. 1

Early History of the Letourneau family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Letourneau research. The years 1640 and 1686 are included under the topic Early Letourneau History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Letourneau Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Letourneau, Létourneau, Lestourneau, Letourneux, Letourneur, Letournel, Letourne, Étourneau, Étournel, Étournaud, Estourneau, Estournel, Tourneuille, Tournel, Tournelle, Tournelot and many more.

Early Notables of the Letourneau family

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

Letourneau World Ranking

In the United States, the name Letourneau is the 5,264th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Letourneau is ranked the 473rd most popular surname with an estimated 10,130 people with that name. 3 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Letourneau is the 188th popular surname. 4 France ranks Letourneau as 7,612nd with 1,000 - 1,500 people. 5


Letourneau migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Letourneau Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Math. Letourneau, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896
  • Henri Letourneau, aged 27, who immigrated to America from Havre, in 1897
Letourneau Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Abbi Letourneau, aged 35, who landed in America from Nantes, in 1904
  • Louis Letourneau, aged 23, who landed in America from Vinsenteers, France, in 1908
  • Arthur Letourneau, aged 19, who settled in America, in 1921
  • Blanche Letourneau, aged 43, who immigrated to the United States from St Denis, France, in 1922
  • Gilbert J. Letourneau, aged 21, who landed in America, in 1922
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Letourneau migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Letourneau Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • David Letourneau, son of David and Sébastienne, who married Françoise Chapelain, daughter of Louis and Françoise, in Château-Richer, Quebec on 6th June 1664 6
  • Jean Letourneau, son of David and Sébastienne, who married Anne-Françoise Dufresne, daughter of Pierre and Anne, in Sainte-Famille, Quebec on 18th April 1673 6
  • Philippe Letourneau, son of David and Jeanne, who married Marie-Madeleine Vallée, daughter of Jean and Marie, in Quebec on 12th February 1685 6
  • Louis Letourneau, son of David and Françoise, who married Anne Blouin, daughter of Médéric and Marie, in Saint-Jean-de-l'île-d'Orléans, Quebec on 19th November 1696 6
  • Bernard Letourneau, son of David and Françoise, who married Marie Rocheron, daughter of Gervais and Marie-Madeleine, in Sainte-Famille, Quebec on 2nd June 1698 6
Letourneau Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Jean Letourneau, son of David and Françoise, who married Marguerite Caron, daughter of Robert and Marguerite, in Sainte-Anne, Quebec on 19th April 1706 6
  • Louis Letourneau, son of Louis and Anne, who married Agathe Guyon, daughter of Gervais and Catherine, in Sainte-Famille-de-l'île-d'Orléans, Quebec on 22nd April 1727 6
  • Antoine Letourneau, son of Louis and Anne, who married Marguerite Destroismaisons, daughter of Charles and Madeleine, in Saint-Thomas, Quebec on 17th April 1736 6
  • Alexis Letourneau, son of Jacques and Angélique, who married Marie-Geneviève Naud, daughter of Jean-François and Geneviève, in Deschambault-Grondines, Quebec on 13th July 1738 6
  • Joseph Letourneau, son of Louis and Anne, who married Marie-Angélique Bouteiller, daughter of Antoine and Louise, in Longueuil, Quebec on 13th January 1738 6
Letourneau Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Severin Letourneau, aged 49, who immigrated to Montreal, Canada, in 1920

Contemporary Notables of the name Letourneau (post 1700) +

  • Fanny Létourneau (1979-1999), Canadian gold medalist synchronized swimmer at the 1999 Pan American Games
  • Robert Gilmour LeTourneau (1888-1969), American inventor of earthmoving machinery who held over 300 patents, founder of LeTourneau University, in Longview, Texas and LeTourneau Technologies
  • Duane John Letourneau, American biochemist and an educator, Idaho
  • Michel Létourneau (1949-2019), Canadian politician who served in the National Assembly of Quebec from 1994 to 2007
  • Louis A. Letourneau (1868-1952), Canadian former hockey owner of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team
  • François Letourneau (1969-1996), Canadian slalom canoer at the 1996 Summer Olympics
  • Omer Létourneau (1891-1983), Québécois pianist, organist, composer and orchestra conductor
  • Alain Letourneau, Canadian Senior Founding Associate, Pepi and Letourneau, barristers and solicitors, Montreal


  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. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.


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