Richard (in French = Ree-shard) family members were among those who migrated from northwestern
France, between Paris and the coast across from England, to Canada in the 1600s when New France was
established.
The town of Abancourt, France, is in this region, hence Richard D'Abancourt
may be associated with the Richard family tree. So far, it has not proved possible to identify
the first person or place of origin for the surname Richard. In the documentation linked to this page
is a substantial amount of history of the Acadians. The label "Acadian" comes from the
name given on 16th century maps of the present day Canadian Maritime provinces.
Acadians were those French settlers occupying the geographical area described. They became
a people identified by the area's name Acadia. In Louisiana, to which they migrated after
expulsion for refusal to swear allegiance to Britain's monarch, the area of settlement
is called Acadiana.
In 1764 the Spanish government allowed expelled Acadians into Spanish Louisiana.
They came through New Orleans then settled in what the Spanish called Attapakas,
later a so-named County, eventually subdivided into five separate Louisiana Parishes.
Not surprisingly, the settlers gradually spilled over into neighboring parishes where
there were already French-speaking settlers who came from France and/or Canada but who
were not originally among the Acadians.
Among the Acadian first settlers were Jean Richard and his son Joseph.
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The map at left shows the five parishes which make up the original Attapakas
area: Lafayette, St Martin, Vermillion, Iberia and St Mary. Terrebonne and
Lafourche Parishes are also home to Francophones, as are numerous other areas
throughout southwestern Louisiana.
Acadiana has a flag officially recognized by the State.
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Name Meanings for RICHARD
[Genealogy.about.com]
Definition: Derived from the given name Richard and meaning "powerful or brave," this surname is
Germanic in origin, composed of the elements "ric" meaning power and "hard" meaning hardy or brave.
Example: Richard the Lion Hearted.
Surname Origin: English
Alternate Surname Spellings: RICHERD, RICKARD, RICARD, RICKARD, RICHARDS
[http://www.searchforancestors.com/surnames/origin/r/richard.php]
Of a powerful, rich, or generous disposition, from ric, rich, and ard, nature or disposition.
Source: An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names With an Essay on their Derivation
and Import; Arthur, William, M.A.; New York, NY: Sheldon, Blake, Bleeker & CO., 1857.
[Ancestry.com]
English, French, German, and Dutch: from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements ric ‘power(ful)’ + hard ‘hardy’, ‘brave’, ‘strong’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
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The sequence of maps above display the origin in France, settlement in
the new world, expulsion, and migration-resettlement in Louisiana, Nova Scotia and Quebec.
[These maps were found at www.cbc.ca Canadian Broadcasting Co web site, in-depth report on Acadians].
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