Show ContentsVoisine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Voisine

What does the name Voisine mean?

Languedoc is the region of ancient France from which the name Voisine was derived. It comes from when the family lived in Languedoc, where the family was found since the early Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Voisine family

The surname Voisine was first found in Languedoc, where this family held a family seat since ancient times.

Many branches are recorded and distinctive, among them were the Marquis of Alzau, the Lords of Pomas, the Lords of Cuxac, the Lords of Arques and the Barons of Blagnac and of Cornebarieu. Prominent among the Ambres branch were Jean, Baron of Ambres, and of Brametourte and Viscount of Lautrec (1481) and François, Baron of Ambres, Viscount of Lautrec, Seneschal of Lauragais and Governor of Castres and of Lavaur (1552).

During the 16th century, two new branches formed, the de Voisins-Lavernière branch and the de Voisins of Mirabel branch. Distinctive among the Alzau branch of the family were Amalric de Voisins who received a portion of the Seigniories of Moussoulens, Pézens, la Bastide Rouge, Paire, Caudebronde and Cuxac, Blaise de Voisins, Lord of Pézens, Moussoulens, Cuxac and Caudebronde in 1417, and Bernard de Voisins, Lord of Alzau, of Pézens, etc., and Knight of Malta in 1579.

Elie Voisin, son of Elie and Marie of St.Germain, travelled from France to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in Quebec he married Madeleine Larcher, daughter of Pierre and Adrienne of St.Pierre, on 15th October 1668. 1

Early History of the Voisine family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Voisine research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1209, 1231, 1345, 1391, 1431 and 1440 are included under the topic Early Voisine History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Voisine Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous alterations in spelling because of the various cultural groups that inhabited specific regions. Eventually, each region possessed its own local dialect of the French language. The early development of the French language, however, was also influenced by other languages. For example, Old French was infused with Germanic words and sounds when barbarian tribes invaded and settled in France after the fall of the Roman Empire. Middle French also borrowed heavily from the Italian language during the Renaissance. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Voisine is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Voisins, Voisin, Voysin, Voisine, Voysins, Voisyn, Voisyns, Voycins, Voicins, Voycine, Voycins, Voicyn, Voicyns, Les Voisins, Les Voisines, Les Voisyns, Les Voycins, Les Voicyns, Les Voycins, Les Voicins, Les Voycines, Le Voisin, Le Voysin, La Voisine, Le Voisyn, Le Voicyn, La Voycine, Vesine, Vésine, Vezine, Vézine, Vézina and many more.

Early Notables of the Voisine family

Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Voisine Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Voisine migration to Canada +

France finally gave land incentives for 2,000 migrants during the 1700s. Early marriage was encouraged in New France, and youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted migrants, both noble and commoner from France. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries, leaving French names scattered across the continent. The search for the Northwest passage continued. Migration from France to New France or Quebec, as it was now more popularly called, continued until 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In the treaty of Utrecht, the Acadians were ceded by France to Britain in 1713. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported. They found refuge in Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many of this distinguished family name Voisine were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Voisine were

Voisine Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Élie Voisine, son of Élie and Marie, who married Madeleine Larcher, daughter of Pierre and Adrienne, in Quebec on 15th October 1668 2
Voisine Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Pierre Voisine, son of Pierre and Catherine, who married Marguerite Aubuchon, daughter of Jean and Marguerite, in Montreal, Quebec on 27th May 1720 2
  • Louis Voisine, son of Louis and Marie, who married Marie-Anne Roy, daughter of Joseph-Noel and Agathe, in Saint-Vallier, Quebec on 12th January 1756 2
  • Philippe Voisine, son of François and Marie-Anne, who married Geneviève Coté, daughter of Gabriel and Élisabeth, in Kamouraska, Quebec on 25th January 1757 2
  • Pierre-Zénobée Voisine, son of Philippe and Geneviève, who married Madeleine Soucy, daughter of Charles-François and Louise, in Kamouraska, Quebec on 17th January 1780 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Voisine (post 1700) +

  • Don Voisine (b. 1952), American abstract painter
  • William W. Voisine (1897-1959), American politician, Mayor of Ecorse, Michigan, 1948-49, 1954-57 3
  • Fred Voisine, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 101st District, 1974, 1974 3
  • Joseph Armand Roch Voisine OC ONB (b. 1963), Canadian Juno Award winning Acadian singer-songwriter, actor, and radio and television host
  • Roch Voisine (b. 1963), Canadian singer, song writer, actor, radio and TV host
  • Real Voisine, Canadian founder of R&R Voisine & Assoc. of Quebec City


The Voisine Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Pro fide
Motto Translation: For faith.


  1. Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
  2. Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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