Vachon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France

During that dark period of history known as the Middle Ages, the name of Vachon was first used in France. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, are the most common form of a hereditary surname in France, occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages. Many people, such as the Vachon family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Vachon was an occupational name for a cowherd. Originally the name Vachon was derived from the Old French word "vache," meaning "cow." [1]

Early Origins of the Vachon family

The surname Vachon was first found in Dauphiny (French: Dauphiné or Dauphiné Viennois), a former province in southeastern France, where this eminent family held a family seat in the honour of the seigneurie of St. Etienne.

They became important contributors in political and diplomatic circles, and were raised to the nobility as the Marquis de Belmont. In Lyon they were also raised to the seigneurie. In Quebec Archbishop Alexandre Vachon made important contributions to the emerging identity of New France.

Paul Vachon, born in 1630, son of Vincent and Sapience, travelled from France to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in Quebec he married Marguerite Langlois, born on 3rd September 1639, daughter of Noel and Françoise, on 22nd October 1653. They remained together in Quebec until Marguerite's death on 25th September 1697. Paul passed away at Beauport on 25th June 1703. [2]

Early History of the Vachon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vachon research. The years 1645, 1700, 1731 and 1732 are included under the topic Early Vachon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vachon Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Vachon, Vachen, Vachin, Vacheron, Vacion, Vation and others.

Early Notables of the Vachon family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Archbishop Alexandre Vachon

Vachon World Ranking

In the United States, the name Vachon is the 6,672^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [3] However, in Canada, the name Vachon is ranked the 276^th most popular surname with an estimated 15,383 people with that name. [4] And in Quebec, Canada, the name Vachon is the 96^th popular surname. [5] France ranks Vachon as 3,035^th with 2,000 - 2,500 people. [6]

Vachon migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Vachon Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Paul Vachon, who arrived in Quebec in 1650 from Poitou
Paul Vachon, son of Vincent and Sapience, who married Marguerite Langlois, daughter of Noel and Françoise, in Quebec on 22nd October 1653 [7]
Vincent Vachon, son of Paul and Marguerite, who married Louise Cadieu, daughter of Charles and Madeleine, in Beauport, Quebec on 25th June 1685 [7]
Noel Vachon, son of Paul and Marguerite, who married Monique Girou, daughter of Toussaint and Marie, in Beauport, Quebec on 24th October 1695 [7]
Pierre Vachon, son of Paul and Marguerite, who married Marie-Catherine Soulard, daughter of Jean and Catherine, in Quebec on 5th March 1696 [7]

Vachon Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Louis Vachon, son of Vincent and Louise, who married Marie-Louise Maillou, daughter of Noel and Louise, in Beauport, Quebec on 16th November 1716 [7]
François Vachon, son of Vincent and Louise, who married Marguerite Giroux, daughter of Michel and Thérèse, in Beauport, Quebec on 14th November 1718 [7]
Noel Vachon, son of Noel and Monique, who married Marie-Jeanne Bélanger, daughter of Paul and Jeanne, in Beauport, Quebec on 16th January 1719 [7]
Vincent Vachon, son of Vincent and Louise, who married Marie-Madeleine Parant, daughter of Jean and Françoise, in Beauport, Quebec on 17th November 1723 [7]
Etienne-Noel Vachon, son of Noel and Marie-Jeanne, who married Geneviève Lessard, daughter of François and Angélique, in Quebec on 20th June 1750 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Vachon (post 1700) +

John Vachon (1914-1975), American photographer
Jean Vachon (b. 1989), American silent film actress
Christine Vachon (b. 1962), American movie producer
Marin Vachon, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Lyon, 1914 [8]
Joseph H. Vachon (1906-1986), American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Saco, Maine, 1941-73 (acting, 1941-42) [8]
Pierre Vachon (1731-1803), French classical composer, born in Avignon, France
Paul Vachon (1937-2024), Canadian professional wrestler who used the ring name Butcher Vachon
Rev. Louis-Albert Vachon FRSC, CC (1912-2006), Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, and Archbishop Emeritus of Quebec
Rose-Anna Vachon (1870-1948), French-Canadian mother who developed a cream filled chocolate cake for sons that later became the Vachon Cake Company now held by Saputo
Rogatien Vachon (b. 1945), Canadian NHL ice hockey goaltender
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Dionne, N.-E., Origine Des Familles Canadiennes-Français. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969. Print.
Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
"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/
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 5) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html