Favor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France

Etymology of Favor

What does the name Favor mean?

The surname Favor is derived from the Old French word "fevre," which meant "a blacksmith," therefore it was originally an occupational name for a smith or a metal worker. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, those derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, were the most common form of a hereditary surname in France, occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Favor family

The surname Favor was first found in Savoy (French: Savoie) in the Rhône-Alpes region of the French Alps, where this noble family held a family seat since ancient times.

Throughout the centuries, families of this surname or one of its spelling variations could be found in many regions of France, including Vaud, Genève, Bresse, Lyonnais, Savoie, Dauphiné, Guillaume, and Echallens. Pierre of the Favre family of Lyon was a Consul in Lyon in 1382 and of his descendants, five were Magistrates of Lyon during the 16th century.

In Savoie, Gaspard was the secretary to the Duke in 1470 and one of the Senators of Savoie, as well as the President of the Senate. Guillaume, of Echallens from the county of Vaud, became a burgess, or businessman, in 1508 and his son, François, was one of the founders of the "Independence of Geneva" in 1534. Distinctive among his descendants were State Consuls of Geneva, Officers of State, General Treasurers, and the Lords of Dardagny, Russin, Malval, Confignon, and Châteauvieux, amongst others.

Pierre Lefebvre, born in 1642, son of Olivier and Michelle (née Renou), settled in Quebec in the 17th century. He married Marie-Madeleine Trudel, daughter of Jean and Marguerite (née Thomas), in 1674. The remained together until Pierre passed away at Charlesbourg on 21st November 1727. Pierre's brother, Robert Lefebvre, born in 1633, married Denise Gautier in Quebec on 7th February 1667. They remained together until Denise's death on 7th February 1695. Robert passed away on 3rd February 1703. 1

Early History of the Favor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Favor research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1525, 1552, 1569, 1574, 1576, 1578, 1585, 1600, 1615, 1624, 1626, 1650, 1652, 1667, 1672, 1700, 1706 and 1716 are included under the topic Early Favor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Favor Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lefebvre, Lefebvres, Lefevres, Favre, Favres, Fevre, Febvre, Febvres, Favers, Lefabre, Lefabvres, Fabvres, Lefever and many more.

Early Notables of the Favor family

Notable in the family name at this time was Antoine Favre (d. 1626), Professor at the University of Valence; Jean Le Fèvre (1652-1706), a French astronomer and physicist; Tanneguy Lefebvre (1615-1672), French classical scholar; Etienne Favre was a Counsel at the Appeals Tribunal of Bresse where he had his noble status confirmed...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Favor Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Favor migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Favor Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

D. P. Favor, aged 32, who landed in America, in 1893
Ethel Favor, aged 22, who immigrated to America, in 1896

Favor Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ida L Favor, aged 18, who landed in America, in 1904
Getty Favor, aged 43, who landed in America, in 1907
Irving Perley Favor, aged 45, who landed in America, in 1907
L. O. Favor, aged 45, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
Maud Favor, aged 21, who settled in America, in 1909
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Favor (post 1700) +

Mike Favor (b. 1966), American football player for North Dakota State University (1985-1988)
Edward Addison Favor (1856-1936), billed as Edward M. Favor or Ed. M. Favor, an American singer and vaudeville comedian
Donald Favor (1913-1984), American hammer thrower, national champion in 1934 and placed sixth at the 1936 Summer Olympics
Suzy Favor Hamilton (b. 1968), née Favor, American middle-distance runner
Edmond Favor Noel (1856-1927), American politician, governor of Mississippi (1908-1912)
Edmund Favor Noel (1856-1927), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Mississippi State House of Representatives, 1881-82; Member of Mississippi State Senate, 1895-1903, 1920-27 2

Citations +

Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html