Laurent VIAU dit L'ESPÉRANCE

(b. 7 May 1739 , Chambly, Canada, New France d. 7 May 1795 , Beloeil, Lower Canada )

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Laurent VIAU dit L'ESPÉRANCE was born 7 May 1739 in Chambly, Canada, New France

Laurent VIAU dit L'ESPÉRANCE was the child of Laurent-Louis VIAU dit LESPÉRANCE and Marie-Charlotte DESNOYERS and the grandchild of: (paternal) Michel VIAU and Helene CHARLES LAJEUNESSE (maternal) Jean DESNOYERS dit DESMARAIS and Thérèse MENARD

Spouse(s)/Partner(s) and Child(ren):

Laurent married Marguerite BROUILLETTE 26 January 1761 in Chambly, Canada . The couple had (at least) 2 children.
Marguerite BROUILLETTE was born 14 March 1739 in Chambly, Québec, Canada (Saint-Joseph-de-Chambly). Marguerite died 12 October 1809 in Chambly, Québec, Canada (Saint-Joseph-de-Chambly). Marguerite was the child of Pierre BROUILLET and Marguerite LEFORT.

Laurent VIAU dit L'ESPÉRANCE died 7 May 1795 in Beloeil, Lower Canada .
Details of the family tree of Laurent appear below.

Québec Généalogie - Over time, Québec has gone through a series of name changes
From its inception in the early 1600s until 1760, it was called Canada, New France.
1760 to 1763, it was simply Canada
1763 to 1791 - Province of Québec
1791 to 1867 - Lower Canada
1867 to present - Québec, Canada.

Thanks to Micheline Gadbois MacDonald for providing this information.

Québec Généalogie - What is a 'dit/dite' name? When the first settlers came to Québec from France it was a custom to add a 'dit' nickname to the surname. The English translation of 'dit' is 'said'. The Colonists of Nouvelle France added 'dit' names as distinguishers. A settler might have wanted to differentiate their family from their siblings by taking a 'dit' name that described the locale to which they had relocated. The acquiring of a 'dit' name might also be the result of a casual adoption, whereby the person wanted to honor the family who had raised them. Another reason was also to distinguish themselves by taking as a 'dit' name the town or village in France from which they originated. This custom ended around 1900 when people began using only one name, either the 'dit' nickname or their original surname.

Source: American-French Genealogical Society, Woonsocket, Rhode Island (www.afgs.org/ditnames/index1.html)

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