Translation of Surname "Theodore"

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Permalink Reply by James P. LaLone on November 19, 2015 at 8:54am

Theodore seems to be a first name used by the French. I do not have it listed in my files as a last name..  Who was the person, who, when & where did he/she marry?

There was someone with the surname of THEODORE very early, with the dit name of GILLES. His line is not given in Tanguay.  There is a lineage here, but it appears to daughter out early - http://www.nosorigines.qc.ca/genealogieSearch.aspx

Permalink Reply by Sandra on November 19, 2015 at 11:54am

Thank you for your reply Jim.  Paul Joseph Theodore, born 22 May 1861 at LaCroix, Quebec, Canada, per his Declaration of Intention for Citizenship.  He stated on the Declaration that he traveled on the Grand Trunk Railway from Montreal to Swanton, Vermont, and then went to Burlington, VT in 1863.  I think that at some point he went back to Canada, and then immigrated a second time to Michigan about 1884.  He did not marry until he was in the U.S.  He married a German woman in 1886, and they lived in Lansing, Michigan.  I have no idea who his parents are.  I also do not know which "LaCroix", as I think there are multiple locations with this name in Quebec.

 

Permalink Reply by James P. LaLone on November 20, 2015 at 8:23am

Ok, when & where did he die?  Doyou have his death certificate? Do you have an obit? Where was he buried? Did he leave a will?  Same questions for the wife.  Where does he appear in the census records?  Did he have any siblings that you know of?

Permalink Reply by Sandra on November 20, 2015 at 8:15pm

I should have been more clear. I have already done a thorough search of records in the U.S., including the death record, obit, children's birth records, marriage record, federal and state censuses, newspaper articles, city directories, employment records, Declaration of Intention, etc.  I am just beginning to look at the French-Canadian records, as none of the above records yielded any information about parents or siblings.   I am experienced in genealogy in general, but have no experience with the French-Canadian resources.  My first attempt at finding a "Theodore" family in the Canadian census was unsuccessful.  This led to my initial question about whether there are any known variations or translations of the name.

Thanks, appreciate the input.

 

Permalink Reply by HJ Armstrong on November 21, 2015 at 10:12am

I have two (2), thoughts for your original question.

1) The English translation Theodore, could be from old French surname of Dieudonné and Descoteaux dit Dieudonné.
2) The time frame involved suggests, the Theodore surname may not have a French Canadian surname connection. I suspect the surname is likely Welsh.

Canada was the one of the primary destinations of Welsh emigrants between 1815 to 1850. Most immigrants arrived in Quebec City or Halifax. Only to relocated into the United States. 

Permalink Reply by Sandra on November 21, 2015 at 6:24pm

Thanks, both thoughts are good leads