Irish and French relations have long been inextricably interwoven. World War II hero Charles de Gaulle had strong Irish ancestry through his mother’s side; she belonged to the McCartan clan from Ulster.
Irish immigrants emigrated to New France, now Quebec, as well. Researching your ancestors who lived there could reveal surprising discoveries.
French Surnames
French surnames have long been prized for their timeless beauty and wide recognition across borders. They offer insight into an ancestor’s occupation, place of origin, social status and personal characteristics that reveal family ties as well as distinguishable personal traits. Exploring their etymologie may reveal more information.
Gernier is a variant of Gerrier, an occupational surname for those responsible for running storehouses for corn. Additionally, this surname can indicate someone who was lighthearted or joyful – well known examples include American singer and actress Sara Bareilles.
Named after someone working for a baron or having ideas beyond their station. Additionally, it could also be derived from Barreur as an agent derivative of barrer which means to close or block off, suggesting it as possible occupation surname for jailers or doorkeepers.
Before the French Revolution, a person took their father’s given name as their surname; later a suffix would be added to indicate their branch of military service or an honored title; for example Gustave Eiffel’s birth name was Alexandre Gustave Bonickhausen dit Eiffel but changed after becoming part of Eiffel family after French Revolution.
Huguenots
John Calvin’s teachings quickly found an eager audience among artisans, merchants and French nobility. By the 1600s, Calvinist churches had spread throughout France with formal structures modeled on Geneva as well as national synods to resolve any doctrinal disputes that might arise.
The 16th century witnessed a series of religious wars and bloodshed, culminating in the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of 1572 before finally leading to the Edict of Nantes (1598) which granted Huguenots freedom of religion and civil rights within Catholic France.
At this time, many Huguenots left France and settled across Europe – England, Germany, the Netherlands and elsewhere. Some even migrated to Great Britain’s North American colonies. This book explores their development with particular attention paid to women and children as it provides a model for scholars of other religious groups worldwide.
Normans
Viking warbands began terrorizing continental European coasts during the late 9th century and even established themselves on what is now France, then known as Gaul or Brittany. Around 911 Charles ‘the Simple” made a ‘kind’ offer to Rollo and his Nor(th) Men to remain within his kingdom provided they acknowledged his authority without raiding or destroying.
These “Dukes of Normandy” folk adopted French culture and language, married local people and adopted Norman culture and traditions – eventually adopting Norman ancestry themselves! They are remembered today for the many Norman castles built across England and Ireland and for compiling Domesday Book which served as the largest survey of property ownership up until 1873. Additionally they inherited what would later become Western standards’ tight political system that included county-shire subdivision of land ownership; sheriffs responsible for criminal trials as well as raising infantry levies; as well as fair measures to enforce justice between factions – something no Western countries would do today!
Trade Routes
Irish culture and language has always had strong links with France. If your DNA test reveals Irish ancestry, there’s a good chance it comes from French-rooted Normans who helped build Ireland centuries ago.
Historiography of Irish-French relations during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries has traditionally focused on commercial links between Ireland and France. Scholarly research has traced major trade routes between them, identified families involved with commercial networks on both sides, and given insight into their business transactions.
Irish exports to France were valued at $9.44 billion in 2022. Ireland was especially keen on tapping French markets for Packaged medications ($1.24B), Nitrogen heterocycle compounds ($1.19B) and Vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins and cultures ($1.13B). Rosslare Europort currently provides more than 30 weekly departures to Cherbourg, Le Havre, Dunkirk Zeebrugge Bilbao with this link being strengthened further through an Honorary Consul in Saint Malo and the recent opening of Brest Embassy.