1. Objectifs

Intentions :
« Here we investigate how family names in Quebec developed over the period of almost four centuries, and attempt to determine what became of some of these names in their country of origin, France. Seen from the perspective of family names, the New World seems quite different from the Old World. » (p. 216)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
392 000 personnes baptisée avant 1800

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

« The history of the family names is directly linked to the history of populations. In the French-Canadian case, this history has two main features: a small number of founding members of a population, and a rapid increase due to a high reproduction rate, without any significant new influx of immigrants. Other factors intervened in the success of certain names: differential reproduction rates between regions, how early the name was established: and the use of surnames, which in some cases replaced the original name. With respect to names, France and New France were very different. Research in France on the names of a sample of pioneers going to the New World shows little expansion of several names, particularly in the immigrants’ region of origin. » (p. 215)