Transformation of the name through ages
Roman Empire:
According to some notable historians, the surname DuFaur or DuFour is
connected to a francized form of the name of Latin origin «Fabri» or
«Fabry», which goes back to the Roman empire, the 1st century of our
era. Dufour were affiliated with Hugues Fabri, son of Jean, who was a
baillif and ordering fortress of Hyères.
Xe century:
In
Xe century, the Limousin was divided: Seigniories of Marche,
Combrailles, Limoges, Turenne and Ventadour were then part of the Duchy
of Aquitaine. The capital was Limoges. The surname "Dufour" was, at
that time, the name of an illustrious House in Allassac, Limousin,
where the family goes back to times preceding the XIIe century.
XIIe century: Through the
ages, the majority of the patronymes underwent changes of orthography.
These changes in spelling were often errors made by a scribe, a priest
or a census taker when a the name was said verbally. There is several
variations in the spelling of the surname «Dufour» like Dufourg,
Dufourc, Dufoure, Dufur, Duffour, Duffourg, Duffur, Duffoure, Dufourd,
all from the same origin.
XIIIe century: In XIIIe
century, a branch of the family established itself in Auvergne where
the members are said to have had a flourishing life, lands and titles,
the head of this branch was the count de Brioude. In the same period in
time, a second branch of the family was to be established in Provence
where several members were distinguished scholars, judges, magistrate
and Church bishops. The family first appeared on record in XIIIe
century in Picardie, where Thomas Fabri lands and manors were
registered.
XIVe century: Rogier
Dufour was found on record in the Royal Cartularies in 1324. Jehan and
Guilot Fabri were also in the Registers of the Court of the
Assistances, in 1340 and 1341.
XVe century: Thomas
(1404) and Jehan (1438) Fabri are found in the registers of the Court
of the Assistances. Also found, Jaquot DuFour served under the
archbishop in 1448. Henri appeared in the registers as a taxpayer in
Picardie in 1438. Jehan Dufour is there in 1460. Pierre Fabri was a
public figure and his name seen on the Acts of Roue of 1492 to 1514. He
was described as "discretus to vir magister Petrus Fabri notarius
burgi Dunieri". During this period, the line of Allassac formed the
branches of Faure de Gimel and Faur de Citres, which introduced the
marquis de Satillieu, de DuFaure, and de Saint-Sylvestre inthe XVe
century. Guy 1er Du Faur became seigneur de Pibrac, president of
Parlement od Paris, member od the Royal Private Councel following his
uncle Michel resignation, member of College de Gai Savoir, chancellor
of Navarre and author of several publications: sonnets "Les
Plaisirs de la Vie Rustique". Michel 1er Du Faur, his descendant, was
Lord of Pibrac and Baron of Tarabel; He assisted King Louis XIII in
Guyenne at the siege of Montauban. He was nominated to Royal Advisor,
Personal Help at the State Council and Private Aid to the King.
XVIe century: Michel
DuFaure honored the viscount of Turenne in 1552. Georges Dufaure was
Lord of Pujols and of Proulhac in 1570. Were they "Dufour"? We do not
know for certain.
In this era, the French culture was a model for the whole European
community and a challenge for the exploration of the New World.
XVIIe century: In 1617,
Champlain brings the first immigrant in Nouvelle-France (Quebec), Louis
Hébert, a Parisian pharmacist, and his family.
The Dufour in North America:
In North America, the Dufour
newcomers appear at different times.
Pierre Dufour, baker, born at La Rochelle, lived at Ste-Marguerite in
1619. Married Raymonde Tharais in 1609; they had 7 children.
Louis Dufour, bread merchant, married Françoise Lamoureux: one
daughter, Élisabeth, born at La Rochelle married in 1618 Jacques Pépin,
son of David and Suzanne Albert, also from La Rochelle. Was is a
relative to Pierre above?"
Theodore Dufour established in Virginia in 1621 with his wife and his
two children, he does not seem to date to have left identifiable
descent.
Gabriel-Robert Dufour (see history: ancescors) of Lisieux in
Normandy arrives to Nouvelle-France about 1690 established East of
Quebec, a lot of descendants perpetuate the name.
Claude Dufour (see history: ancescors) of Lergueux in Franche-Comté,
arrived about 1730 on the Seigniory of Soulanges. His descendants are
in the great area of Montreal and Laurentides.
Jean Dufour known as Brind' Amour
(see history: ancescors) settled in Arkansas and Louisiana about 1750.
Other Dufour took roots in the 17th
century such as Pierre (known as Bonvivant), Pierre (known as Latour)
and some other "secondary" and incomplete lines (see history:
ancescors).
Between 1820 and 1823, H. Larroche
Dufour, 27 years old can be found in New-Orleans, Probably in the same
lineage than Jean Dufour known as Brind' Amour. Also found, P. Dufour,
55 years old, New-Orleans in 1821.
