Richard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Germany

Etymology of Richard

What does the name Richard mean?

The history of the name Richard goes back the Medieval period to a region known as Brittany (French: Bretagne). Such a French name was given to a person known for his bravery. The name Richard is derived from the Germanic personal name of Richard, which is composed of the elements "ric", meaning "powerful", and "hard", meaning "brave" or "strong".

Early Origins of the Richard family

The surname Richard was first found in Brittany where they held a family seat in the honour of Kerjean, a seigneurie which would ultimately become noblesse as Barons of the Empire.

By the 15th century many of the family name had branched eastward to Lorraine, where the name seemed to become most prolific. Meanwhile, they also emerged in other locations throughout France including Aboncourt in Lorraine, Dauphine, Bressel in Neufchatel, Pichon in île-de-France, Prade in Lyonnais, Vaux in Roannais, Ruffey in Bourgogne, Pontreau in Berry, in Brittany at Pervenchere, Primaudaye, and in Coetaufao. François Richard was a French industrialist who died in 1839.

Marin Richard, son of Jean and Guillemette (née Bertin), is recorded as one of the first members of the Richard family to come to New France in the 17th century. He is viewed as the primary ancestor for the Richard families in Canada. Marin eventually settled at Saint-Charles-des-Grandines and married Marie-Madeleine Grandjean, daughter of Philippe and Claude (née Argentiere), in Quebec on 21st October 1669. 1

Early History of the Richard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Richard research. The years 1621 and 1669 are included under the topic Early Richard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Richard Spelling Variations

There were a great number of spelling variations in French surnames. One reason for this was the wide variety of cultural influences present in France during the early development of the French language. The many spelling variations of the name include Richard, Richeau, de Richard, De Richard, de la Richard, Richaud, Richart and many more.

Early Notables of the Richard family

Notable amongst this name at this time was

Étienne Richard (c. 1621-1669), a French composer, organist and harpsichordist

Richard World Ranking

In the United States, the name Richard is the 506^th most popular surname with an estimated 57,201 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Richard is ranked the 54^th most popular surname with an estimated 37,363 people with that name. 3 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Richard is the 41^st popular surname. 4 France ranks Richard as 6^th with 90,689 people. 5

Richard migration to the United States +

In 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec. Migration was slow. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the French Acadian presence in the Maritimes had reached 500. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The family name Richard has made many distinguished contributions in France and New France to the world of science, culture, religion, and education. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Richard were

Richard Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Richard, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 6
Hen Scott Richard, who landed in Virginia in 1635 6
Maude Richard, who arrived in Virginia in 1642 6
Lawrence Richard, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 6
David Richard, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Richard Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jaques Richard, who landed in Jamestown, Va in 1700 6
Margaret Richard, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1702 6
Andriane Richard, who landed in South Carolina in 1732 6
Bernhartus Richard, aged 29, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1734 6
Lotharius Richard, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Richard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Nancy Richard, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1812 6
James Richard, aged 47, who landed in Massachusetts in 1813 6
Francisco Richard, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1816 6
Auguste Richard, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1823 6
Lewis Richard, who landed in New York, NY in 1826 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Richard migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Richard Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Mr. Jacques Richard, French settler travelling to Canada for work arriving on 30th April 1644 7
Mr. Clément Richard, French labourer travelling to Canada to work for Antoine Grignon, Pierre Gaigneur, and Jacques Massé, arriving on 3rd March 1657 7
Clement Richard, aged 23, who landed in Canada in 1657
Marin Richard, who arrived in Quebec from Normandy in 1669
Marin Richard, son of Jean and Guilmette, who married Marie-Madeleine Granjon, daughter of Philippe and Claude, in Quebec on 21st October 1669 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Richard Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Jean Richard, son of Austrille and Marie, who married Marie Renaud, daughter of Pierre-André and Françoise, in L'Ange-Gardien, Quebec on 18th October 1700 8
Pierre Richard, son of Pierre and Marguerite, who married Marguerite Pagé, daughter of Robert and Marguerite, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 16th November 1700 8
Jean Richard, who arrived in Quebec from Anjou in 1700
François Richard, son of Pierre and Marguerite, who married Marie-Angélique Bertrand, daughter of Guillaume and Marguerite, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 30th January 1702 8
Louis Richard, son of Pierre and Marguerite, who married Marie-Thérèse Pérette, daughter of Jacques and Louise, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 21st November 1708 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Richard Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Ann Richard, aged 3 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Nelson's Village" departing 10th May 1847 from Belfast, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th June 1847 but she died on board 9
Miss. Maria Richard, aged 2 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Nelson's Village" departing 10th May 1847 from Belfast, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th June 1847 but she died on board 9
Miss. Mary Ann Richard who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lotus" departing 15th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 24th June 1847 but she died on board 9

Richard migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Richard Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Daniel Richard, Welsh convict who was convicted in Glamorganshire, Wales for life, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 11th August 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
John Richard, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cressy" in 1847 11
Mr. Charles Richard, (b. 1827), aged 22, Cornish wellsinker travelling aboard the ship "Labuan" arriving in Port Phillip, New South Wales, Australia on 11th February 1849 12
Mr. Charles Richard, (b. 1827), aged 22, Cornish well sinker travelling aboard the ship "Labuan" arriving in Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia on 11th February 1849 13
James Richard, aged 25, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Thetis" 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Richard migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Richard Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mary Ann Richard, aged 27, a servant, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
John Richard, aged 41, a miller, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Soukar" in 1874
Anna Richard, aged 31, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Soukar" in 1874
Thomas J. Richard, aged 11, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Soukar" in 1874
Henry J. Richard, aged 8, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Soukar" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Richard migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 15

Richard Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. John Richard, (b. 1605), aged 30, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 16

Contemporary Notables of the name Richard (post 1700) +

Maurice "Rocket" Richard (1921-2000), Canadian NHL ice hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens, the first to achieve the feat of 50 goals in 50 games, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961
Henri Richard (1936-2020), legendary Canadian professional ice hockey player, nicknamed "The Pocket Rocket"; he won 11 Stanley Cups, the most in NHL history, named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history
Frederick Nathaniel Richard (b. 2004), American artistic gymnast, who competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics winning bronze
Ronald F. "Ron" Richard (1947-2023), American politician, Member of the Missouri House of Representatives, including as Speaker of the House before being elected to the State Senate in 2010
Belton Richard (1939-2017), American Cajun accordionist
Michel Louis-Marie Richard (1948-2016), French-born, American chef
Zeline Richard, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1968 17
Walter J. T. Richard, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Hampshire, 1948 17
Theodore J. Richard, American politician, First Selectman of Norwich, Connecticut, 1947-49
Terry Richard, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 2000 17
... (Another 54 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Richard family +

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Mary Wesley Richard (1875-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 18

RMS Titanic

Mr. Emile Philippe Richard (d. 1912), aged 23, French Second Class passenger from Paris, France who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 19

The Richard Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Aimer
Motto Translation: Love

Citations +

Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Debien, Gabriel. Liste Des Engagés Pour Le Canada Au XVIIe Siècle. Vol. 6, Laval University, 1952. (Retreived 24th May 2018). Retrieved from https://lebloguedeguyperron.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/130-liste-des-contrats-dengagement-pour-la-nouvelle-france-releves-a-la-rochelle-entre-1634-et-1679/
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 93)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CRESSY 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Cressy.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THETIS 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Thetis.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html