Breau (Breaux, Brot, Brau, Brault, Braud, etc)
There were other Breau (Breaux, Brot, Brau, Brault, Braud, Brot etc) families that came to Canada in the 17th century, however they did not settle in Acadia. Their names are Henry Brault dit Pommeville, who was born in France in 1640 and settled in Quebec, and Pierre Brault dit Lafleur, who settled in Montreal and was a soldier from Dejordis born in 1669.
The first Breau listed in Acadian census records is Vincent Breau in 1671, whose surname is written as Brot, along with his wife, Marie Bourg, and children. Vincent was born about 300 km south west of Paris and arrived in Acadie when he was around 21 years old around the year 1651. The census lists them as living originally in Port-Royal and together Vincent and Marie had eleven children. Their son, Antoine Breau, eventually went off and founded Village Breau, and many of the inhabitants of the village were his descendents in some way. The area once known as Village Breau is now known as Martock, named by John Butler, who chose the name after his hometown of Martock in England.
The descendants of Vincent and Marie can also be found in Petitcodiac, Ile St. Jean, Ile Royale, and throughout coastal communities in the Minas Basin. Most of the Breaus now living in Quebec are thought to be descended from Vincent Breau because he had such a large family. Many Breaus were moved to Quebec and Louisiana during the deportation, and Richelieu Valley in Quebec has a large Acadian Breau population. The thirteen English colonies, primarily Massachusetts, Virginia, and Maryland, also received a number of deported Breaus from Acadie.
The first Breau listed in Acadian census records is Vincent Breau in 1671, whose surname is written as Brot, along with his wife, Marie Bourg, and children. Vincent was born about 300 km south west of Paris and arrived in Acadie when he was around 21 years old around the year 1651. The census lists them as living originally in Port-Royal and together Vincent and Marie had eleven children. Their son, Antoine Breau, eventually went off and founded Village Breau, and many of the inhabitants of the village were his descendents in some way. The area once known as Village Breau is now known as Martock, named by John Butler, who chose the name after his hometown of Martock in England.
The descendants of Vincent and Marie can also be found in Petitcodiac, Ile St. Jean, Ile Royale, and throughout coastal communities in the Minas Basin. Most of the Breaus now living in Quebec are thought to be descended from Vincent Breau because he had such a large family. Many Breaus were moved to Quebec and Louisiana during the deportation, and Richelieu Valley in Quebec has a large Acadian Breau population. The thirteen English colonies, primarily Massachusetts, Virginia, and Maryland, also received a number of deported Breaus from Acadie.
Mapping of Acadian Villages courtesy of the West Hants Historical Society. Location of Acadian Villages has been defined from numerous historical map sources and resources. You can also visit the West Hants Historical Society for detailed interpretive panels that discuss: Acadian Settlements in Present Day West Hants; Acadian Travel Routes; Development of Acadian Landscapes; and, Acadian Commerce.
