History of Isle-aux-Coudres, Québec, Canada

During his second trip to Canada, in 1535, Jacques Cartier discovered Isle-aux-Coudres on September 6, 1535. The island owes its name to him. This toponym comes from a small shrub that the navigator discovered on the island and which he considers better than those harvested in France.

seigniory, about 2 m. from the N. shore of the St. Lawrence, nearly opposite to the Bay of St. Paul, is in the co. of Saguenay. - 5 m. in length by 66 arpents in breadth and 5 leagues in circumference. Granted Oct. 29, 1687, to the ecclesiastics of the seminary of Quebec, to whom it still belongs. - Compared with the neighbouring mainland, the island is low, though near the centre are some few rising grounds: the shore in one or two places rises abruptly from the ater, and is covered with thick creeping shrubbery, but in general the ascent is gradual and easy. The soil throughout is of a good, prolific quality and nearly all under tillage, producing grain of all kinds far beyond the consumption of the seigniory: there are a few meadows and pasture grounds. The farms, 400, are divided into two divisions, called Cote du Cap a la Brance and Cote de la Balcine, which are very little watered by streams of any description; in the former, which is at the W. of the island, the soil is light...

ISLE-AUX-COUDRES, an island and seignory of Lower Canada, in the co. of Saguenay, about 2 m. from the N shore of the St. Lawrence, nearly opposite the bay of St. Paul. It a about 5 leagues in circumference, low near the shore, but gradually rising towards the centre, and possessing great fertility. It forms a parish, and has a church and parsonage-house. The principal mineral production of the island is the garnet of the Cap-a-l'Aigle.

A Gazetteer of the World: Or, Dictionary of Geographical Knowledge, Volume 4
Publisher A. Fullarton, 1859

"Isle aux Coudres, vil., Quebec, on an isl. of the same name in St Lawrence River, and in Charlevoix co., 12 m. from St Paul's Bay. P. 718"

Isle aux Coudres, eel o kood'r ("hazel island"), a post-village in Charlevoix co., Quebec, on an island of the same name in the St. Lawrence, 12 miles S.E. of St. Paul's Bay. Pop. 718.