Blason

 
"D'argent à la bande d'azur, chargé de trois pesants, accompagnés de trois maillets de gueules"

Voici la description des armoiries qu'on y retrouve:

1. l'aigle pour l'aspect leader de la famille
    
2. les trois pesants (têtes de clous utilisés pour orner) et les trois maillets (gros marteaux à deux têtes) pour représenter une famille de bâtisseurs
    
3. les feuilles qui représentent la prospérité.

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Nos seigneurs du parlement de Bretagne:

Jean Le Meilleur, sieur de Kerhervé et Grandchamp, conseiller honoraire au présidial de Vannes, anobli en 1655

Joseph Le Meilleur, sieur de Larré, président à mortier en 1682 (président à mortier veut dire président de commission pour la recherche des usurpateurs de titres en Bretagne)

François-Joseph Le Meilleur, sieur de Larré, en1723.
 

Référence:

Pol Potier de Gourey, tome II, "Nobiliaire et Armorial de Bretagne "
A.P. Guérin de la Grasserie: "Armorial de Bretagne"

Origine du nom

Selon "Origine des Familles et Signification de leurs Noms" de N.E. Dionne,1914, le nom de MEILLEUR proviendrait de MEILLERS, commune du département de l'Allier, arr. de Moulins.

Le patronyme Mélier fut retrouvé en Languedoc, où cette famille honorable était installée avec ses terres, ses biens et ses manoirs. Avant 1390, Bonne de Mélier, dame de Mazères, épousa Hélier de Foucaud, gentilhomme et chevalier apprenti. Au fil des siècles, les membres de cette famille se montrèrent particulièrement intéressé aux affaires publiques de la communauté où ils vécurent et ainsi gagnèrent une excellente réputation. Parmi les membres qui furent reconnus pour leur contribution immense, il y avait Jean de Mélier qui devint un avocat célèbre au parlement en 1696. Un autre membre noble de cette famille ancienne fut Henry de Mélier de Labarthe, lieutenant au régiment de Miromenil, Hector-Louis-Jean de Mélier de Labarthe, officier d'infanterie, fut élu membre de l'assemblée de la noblesse en 1789. Descendant de la lignée originaire de Languedoc, Léopold-Louis-Joseph de Mélier de Labarthe fut un soldat exemplaire de capitaine en 1870, et aussi décoré comme un chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur. Le nom de la famille devint aussi connu sur le plan de la médecine notamment par Léopold-Adolphe Joseph-Alexandre de Mélier de Labarthe qui fut docteur en médecine et lauréat de la faculté de Toulouse. Parmi les membres notables de cette famille à l'époque, il y avait Léopold-Louis-Joseph de Mélier de Labarthe, lieutenant, capitaine et officier de la Légion d'Honneur.

réf: Histoires et Bibliographie @ 1984 - 1992 Hall of Names Marketing Inc.

The Ancient History

of the Distinguished Surname

Meilleur

Languedoc is a region in the south of France.  The family name Meilleur is believed to have originated in this region.  Languedoc previously extended further to the north and to the west than what is shown today.  It comprised Toulouse and part of the Central Massif.  Its capital is Toulouse.  The Romans occupied the region in the year 120 B.C.  In the 5^th century, it was invaded by the Vandals, Sueves and the Visigoths.  Later, in the 5^th century, the Franks overran Languedoc.  The capital, Toulouse, was also the capital of the ancient kingdom of Aquitaine, and this country was ruled from this seat.  Languedoc became allied to the Duchy of Toulouse on its northern borders.  The family name Meilleur was first found in Languedoc, where the family has been seated since ancient times.

Most surnames have experienced slight spelling changes.  A son may not choose to spell his name the same way that his father did.  Many were errors, many deliberate.  Usually, a person gave his version, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest or a recorder.  Prefixes or suffixes varied.  They were optional as they passed through the centuries, or were adopted by different branches to signify either a political or religious adherence.  Hence, we have variations in your name Meilleur, some of which are: - Melier, Mellier, Meulier, Meller, Le Melier, Mélier, de Méllier, Melyer, Meiler, Melies, Meleir, to mention a few.

Languedoc, in the 10^th century, was ravaged by the Muslim danger from the Moors.  It came under the influence of the Carolingians and defended the Gothic.  From the 11^th and 12^th century, it passed through the hegemony of the Lords of Toulouse.  It fell prey to the ambitions of the Kings of Aragon and of the Capetians.  A whole new culture emerged with the development of the Roman architecture, the Roman Laws, their literature of occidental languages, etc.  Languedoc was distressed again during the Hundred Years War and was severely ravaged.  In the 16^th century, the region also suffered from the religious conflicts between the traditional and the reformed church.  In the 19^th century, Languedoc was one of the bastions of radicalism.

The name Meilleur was found in Languedoc, where this renown family was seated with their lands, estates and manor.  Before 1390, Bonne de Mélier, a Lady of Mazères, married Hélier de Foucaud, who was a Gentleman and apprentice to a Knight.  Throughout the centuries, the members of this prominent family were found to be particularly interested and took active part in the current affairs of the community in which they lived.  Members were recognized for their extensive contributions, such as Jean de Mélier who became a famous lawyer at the Parliament in 1696.  Another noble member of this ancient family was Henry de Mélier de Labarthe, Lieutenant in the Regiment of Miromenil.  Hector-Louis-Jean de Mélier de Labarthe, Officer of Infantry, was a member of the assembly of Nobility in 1789.  Descended from the original line of Languedoc, Léopold-Louis-Joseph de Mélier de Labarthe was an exemplary member of the military, and as a reward of his achievement, rose to the rank of Lieutenant at the First Regiment of Lanciers.  In order to reward him for the excellent participation and work, he was again promoted to Captain in 1870, and later, they conferred on him the title of Officer of the Legion of Honour.  The family also had members who were engaged in the medical field, such as Léopold-Adolphe Joseph-Alexandre de Mélier de Labarthe who became a Doctor in medicine and a Laureate at the Faculty of Toulouse.  Notable amongst the family name at this time was Léopold-Louis-Joseph de Mélier de Labarthe, Lieutenant, Captain and Officer of the Legion of Honour.

During the early 16^th century in France, there was an expanding awareness of European leadership.  The New World exploration became a challenge.  Following the explorers along the eastern seaboard of North America, settlements included, from north to south, New France emerged, followed by New England, New Holland, and New Spain.  Jacques Cartier made the first three voyages to New France in 1534.  The Jesuits, Champlain in 1608, and the Church missionaries, followed.  In general, the plans for developing Quebec fell short of the objectives of the Company of New France.  Champlain made over twenty voyages to France in order to encourage immigration to New France.  The first true migrant, Louis Hebert, a Parisian apothecary, and his family, arrived in 1617.  In 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec.  In 1663, there were only 500.  2,000 migrants arrived 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 migrants, both noble and commoner, from New France.  15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17^th and 18^th centuries.  Migration from France to New France or Quebec as it was now more popularly called, continued from France until it fell in 1759.  By 1675, there were 7,000 French in Quebec.  By the 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.  Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada.

Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Meilleur were John Melier settled in Virginia in 1649.

Many distinguished contributions have been made by members of this family name Meilleur.  It has been prominent in the arts, religion, politics and culture in France and New France: - Dr. Robert Meilleur of Quebec City; - Frank Meiler of Montreal; - George Melies, Cinema Technician.

During the course of our research, we also determined the ancient Coat of Arms recorded against this family name Meilleur.

The Coat of Arms for the family name Meilleur was:

On a black background appear 3 golden spindles.

Citoyen d'honneur

Lors d'un voyage en France, M. Roger Meilleur fut reçu citoyen d'honneur de la ville de Rouen, promotion touristique de la France de l'Ouest, le 10 juillet 1994.
 

Saint-Gervais de Rouen, Normandie

Lors d'une visite plus récente (mars 1999) dans la ville de Rouen en Normandie, M. André Meilleur et sa famille nous ont rapporté quelques photos inédites de l'église St-Gervais qu'ils ont visitée de fond en comble grâce à l'accueil du curé et de son bedeau sur place. Il a même été reçu " citoyen d'honneur " de la région par cette visite au pays de ses ancêtres normands.
 

André devant les fonts baptismaux qui ont reçu notre ancêtre dans l'église catholique	Clocher de l'église St-Gervais à Rouen, Normandie	Famille d'André autour des fonts baptismaux de l'église St-Gervais de Rouen.