Rachet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• France

Etymology of Rachet

Of all the French names to come from that northwestern peninsula of France known as Brittany, Rachet is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in Brittany. The surname Rachet was a also common occupational name for a grower of root vegetables. Interestingly, the name Rachet was originally from the Old French word "racin," meaning "root."

Early Origins of the Rachet family

Early History of the Rachet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rachet research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1639, 1692, 1699 and 1763 are included under the topic Early Rachet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rachet Spelling Variations

Changes of spelling have occurred in most surnames. The earliest explanation is that during the early development of the French language, names were not yet fixed in spelling. Usually a person gave his version of his name, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. This depended on accent, and local accents frequently changed the spelling of a name. Some variables were adopted by different branches of the family name. Hence, there are some spelling variations of the name Rachet, including Racine, Racinne, Racina, Racinna, Racineux, Racinet, Racinnet, Racineau, Racinneau, Racineu and many more.

Early Notables of the Rachet family

More information is included under the topic Early Rachet Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rachet family

French settlers came early to North American, following in the wake of the explorers, and creating New France. Quebec City, founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain is said to have been the first American site founded as a permanent settlement, rather than as just a commercial outpost. But emigration was slow, in 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 French people in Quebec, and by 1663, when the region was officially made The Royal Colony of New France, by Louis XIV, there still only around 500 settlers. Over 2,000 would arrive during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. Youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted immigrants, both noble and commoner from France. By 1675, there were around 7000 French in the colony, and by that same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. Despite the loss of the Colony to England, the French people flourished in Lower Canada. Among settlers to North America of the Rachet surname were Etienne Racine who arrived in Quebec in 1637 from Normandy; Charles and Peter Racine settled in New York State in 1775; George Racine settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1848.