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de la Fontaine from French nobility

de la Fontaine from French nobility

Rachel F. (View posts)
Posted: 3 May 2005 1:34AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Fountain, Fontaine, de la Fontaine/ la Fontaine
First of all my last name is Fountain, which is a somewhat common name...but my father and I have researched and researched but we cannot find out how our ancestors got to America. The records just stop in the very early 1800's with the surname of la Fontaine/ de la Fontaine,etc.
There is a suspicion (did I spell that right?) in my family that we are related to somebody from French nobility with a similar name.

Does anybody have any idea about this?

Thanks for your help!

Re: de la Fontaine from French nobility

Posted: 28 Jun 2005 1:56PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hello Rachel,
To help you more information is needed. Names, dates, places... Many people research Fountain/Fontaine/de la Fontaine/de Fontaine lines and there is a lot of information out there. The surnames mentioned are in some lines the same family but change spelling over the generations, for inumerous reasons.
The first step is to determine if your line connects to any of the major lines under current research. Most researchers are very generous with their data. I live in Europe and am researching my line on the French "side of the pond" for the moment. Please feel free to contact my e-mail above with the data you have and then I can see if your family connects to my line. If you post the data more researchers will be able to help you.
Kind Regards,
Karen

Re: de la Fontaine from French nobility

Posted: 26 May 2006 3:17PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Fountain; De La Fontaine; La Fontaine
Hi

I too have heard that further back in my family, the original surname was de la fontaine, This French ancestor came to England and was knighted for services to the king at the Court of St James. He is believed to have been a king's messenger. This is information that was passed down a line of descendents to a relative of mine.

baron de Saint-James

Posted: 18 Dec 2013 4:24PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Baudard de Fontaine
Hello Jules,

I know of a French family of minor nobility called the Baudard de Fontaine et de Saint-James. I thought it may be the family of which you speak. Firstly, the family is named de Fontaine, and secondly, received a title related to Saint-James, perhaps so-named for his services to the French King at the court of Saint James in London. I have taken the following passage from E. de Sereville's Dictionnaire de la Noblesse Francaise. Also, the Baudard de Fontaine family are still extant in France and several family members have their family trees posted on several French genealogy sites.

"Baudard de Fontaine et de Saint-James
Anobli par charge de Secrétaire du roi en 1713, comparant à Lyon en 1789. Baron de Saint-Gemmes par Lettres de 1755. Par jugement du tribunal de grande instance de Versailles, en date du 27 février 1973, l’état civil a été rectifié en Baudard de Fontaine, le nom de Baudard figurant seul depuis la fin du XVIIIem siècle."

I hope this might point you in the right direction.

Happy Holidays,

Christopher Barrios de Leon
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