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Family history

Our Mougenat lineage has been traced back to Claude Mougenat, our 10^th great-grandfather.  Claude was probably born around 1600 in the Ban de la Roche area of western France.    He died in 1670 at the village of Solbach located within the French canton of Schirmeck.  We are descended through his daughter Marguerite Mougenat born at Neuviller la Roche also located in Schirmeck.   In 1663, Marguerite married Christian Christman in the local church at nearby Waldersbach.   Between 1666 and 1680 at least six known off-spring were produced of this union.   Our descendancy continued through Marguerite’s son Nicholas Christman born at Solbach in 1666.  Marguerite Mougenat lived for over 62 years until she passed away at Solbach in 1705.

Direct ancestors

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individuals with this surname may be reviewed by clicking on this LINK.

CLAUDE¹ MOUGENAT¹ was born before 1600¹. He died on 28 Oct 1670 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France¹. He married MARGUERITE MOUGENAT (NEE?). He married CLAUDETTE MOUGENAT (NEE?).

Claude Mougenat and Marguerite Mougenat (nee?) had the following children:

                                 i.    CLAUDETTE² MOUGENAT¹ was born before 1640¹.

                               ii.    ESTHER MOUGENAT² was born about 1640². She married George Vouliat on 27 Jun 1663 in Waldersbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France².

iii. MARGUERITE MOUGENAT³ was born on 03 Apr 1643 in Neuviller la Roche, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France³. She died on 09 Jul 1705 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France³. She married Christian Christman, son of Christian Nicholas Christman and Catherine Cloue on 01 Nov 1664 in Waldersbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France³. He was born on 14 May 1637 in Barr, Bas-Rhin, France³. He died on 12 Nov 1699 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France³.

MARGUERITE² MOUGENAT (Claude¹)³ was born on 03 Apr 1643 in Neuviller la Roche, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France³. She died on 09 Jul 1705 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France³. She married Christian Christman, son of Christian Nicholas Christman and Catherine Cloue on 01 Nov 1664 in Waldersbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France³. He was born on 14 May 1637 in Barr, Bas-Rhin, France³. He died on 12 Nov 1699 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France³.

Christian Christman and Marguerite Mougenat had the following children:

i.        NICOLAS³ CHRISTMAN⁴ was born on 04 Feb 1666 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France⁴. He died on 22 Oct 1749 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France⁴. He married Eve Loux, daughter of Nicholas Loux and Claudette Loux (nee?) about 1692 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France^{4, 5}. She was born on 24 Feb 1666 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France⁴. She died on 02 Dec 1741 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France⁴.

ii.      MARGUERITE CHRISTMAN⁶ was born on 13 Oct 1667 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France⁶.

iii.     JEAN CHRISTMAN⁶ was born on 18 Sep 1670 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France⁶. He died on 21 Mar 1737 in Neuviller la Roche, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France⁶. He married (1) MARGURITE MOREL on 27 Apr 1694 in Waldersbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France³. He married (2) ANNE BARBE MOREL on 21 Aug 1728 in Rothau, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France⁶.

iv.     CHRISTIAN CHRISTMAN⁶ was born on 28 Sep 1673 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France⁶. He married Marie Parmentier on 19 Apr 1701 in Fouday, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France⁶.

v.      CATHERINE CHRISTMAN⁶ was born on 13 Dec 1677 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France⁶.

vi.      JEANNE CHRISTMAN⁶ was born on 29 Feb 1680 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France⁶. She died between 1712-1716⁶. She married Benoit Loux on 02 Nov 1700 in Fouday, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France⁶.

1   Christman, Charles and Neva, The Christmann Heritage (Name: 102 Lawrence 2075, LaRussell, Mo. 64848;), p. 13.

2  Christman, Charles and Neva, The Christmann Heritage (Name: 102 Lawrence 2075, LaRussell, Mo. 64848;), p. 14.

3  Christman, Charles and Neva, The Christmann Heritage (Name: 102 Lawrence 2075, LaRussell, Mo. 64848;), p. 10.

4  Christman, Charles and Neva, The Christmann Heritage (Name: 102 Lawrence 2075, LaRussell, Mo. 64848;), p. 9.

5  Siler, Frederick G., Footnote (Name: 889 Dante Court, Mantua, NJ 08051;), Location of marriage event is most likely Solbach because researchshows that both Eve and Nicolas were born and died there.

6  Christman, Charles and Neva, The Christmann Heritage (Name: 102 Lawrence 2075, LaRussell, Mo. 64848;), p. 11.

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that will likely improve your results. The different searches will give you many different ways of using Google and the Internet to find ancestry information about this or any other Surname. 

Source documents

The documents contained within this “Source Documents Archives” have been located during our research of this family, and used as evidence to prove many of the facts contained within the database of this family’s record.   We have source documents related to the following persons within our database with this surname.

·        None

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archive of source documents.  

You are welcome to download any of the documents contained within this archive that does not cite a copyright.  Should you encounter a problem obtaining a copy you may get in touch with us via the contact information found at the end of this web-page.

     Most of these documents can be considered as primary or secondary evidence.  Primary evidence is usually defined as the best available to prove the fact in question, usually in an original document or record.  Secondary evidence is in essence all that evidence which is inferior in its origin to primary evidence. That does not mean secondary evidence is always in error, but there is a greater chance of error.  Examples of this type of evidence would be a copy of an original record, or oral testimony of a record’s contents.  Published genealogies and family histories are also secondary evidence.

     Classifying evidence as either primary or secondary does not tell anything about its accuracy or ultimate value.  This is especially true of secondary evidence.  Thus it is always a good idea to ask the following questions: (1) How far removed from the original is it, (when it is a copy)?; (2) What was the reason for the creation of the source which contains this evidence?; and (3) Who was responsible for creating this secondary evidence and what interest did they have in its accuracy?

SOURCE: Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 2^nd edition, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63

Migration routes

       Tracing our own family’s paths of migration can prove crucial in identifying previous generations and eventually, figuring out where and how they arrived in the “New World” as well as where they eventually settled.  Knowing the network of trails American pioneers traveled can help you guess where to start looking.  The trail map(s) provided below may assist you in understanding the routes that our direct ancestors of this family may have taken to find new homes and opportunities in the vast area now encompassed by the United States.

      During the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries hundreds of thousands of Europeans made the perilous ocean voyage to America.  For many it was an escape from economic hardship and religious persecution.  For most it was an opportunity to start over, own their own land, and make a better future for their descendents.

Immigration records show a number of people bearing the name of MOUGENAT, or one of its variants, as arriving in North America between the 17^th and 20^th centuries.  Some of these immigrants were:  Jules Mougenot who arrived New Orleans, Louisiana in 1855, Augustin Mougenot who arrived at New York, New York, in 1865, and Emile Mougenot who sailed from Le Havre, France to New York, New York in 1896

Use the following links to find more early immigrants with this surname:

$ Search Ancestry.com Immigration Records; or Free Ship’s Passenger lists at OliveTreeGenealogy.com

The Development of an Historical Migration Route

It is understood that in many if not all cases we do not know exactly what routes our ancestors took as they migrated throughout the United States.   As such certain assumptions have been utilized to re-create the migration path presented above.  With regard to 18^th and 19^th century land routes we assume that they travelled along few trails and roads that were in existence at the time.  Research shows that a great many of these old paths and trails are today designated as U.S. Highway Routes.  For example, a major east-west route of migration known as the National Road is now U.S. Route 40, and a primary north-south migration route of the 18^th century followed the Great Indian War and Trading Path is now U.S. Route 11.  In some situations the re-created migration route may travel along state routes that connect or run through the seat of a county as that populated place is probably the oldest settlement in the area. The use of water as a migration route is also likely.  For example, during the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries many families travelled west on the Ohio River as they moved on the new lands in Missouri or the Old Northwest Territory.  As such when applicable water routes have been included as the possible migration route.   

Images gallery

During our research we have collected images and photographs that are of general interest to a particular family.  Some of them are presented on this website because we believe they tend to provide the reader with additional information which may aid in the understanding of our ancestors past lives.  We have images related to the following persons within our database with this surname.

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Ancestral locations

Researching the locations where our ancestors lived has provided us with valuable evidence needed to fill in the gaps in our family trees.  It has also led us to many interesting facts that enhance the overall picture of each family group.

Locations of

Direct Ancestors

Locational Distribution

of  this Surname

Where In the World

are my Ancestors?

Locatiof Direct Ancestors

The names of states and counties on the following list were derived from the known places where the Direct Ancestors in the “Ancestral Lineage” (see above) were born, married, and / or died.

FRANCE

BAS-RHIN

Molshiem

(Neuviller la Roche, Solbach)

Use this LINK to find out more about this

ancestral family and the locations listed above.

Locational distribution of Surname

Knowing the geographical areas where the surname you are researching is clustered and distributed is an indispensable tool in deciding where to focus your research.  We believe that the “Public Profiler” website will open up to you a wide range of solutions which implement current research in spatial analysis.  This site provides an array of local spatial information tools useful to the genealogist. 

The information presented herein shows where the MOUGENOT surname is distributed within North America as well as in France the probable country of origin of this family.      Statistics show that there are approximately 44.82 persons per million of population with this surname, within France, and 0.02 persons per million of population within the United States.  The Luxembourg is found to be the country in the world where this surname is the second most highly clustered having approximately 8.5 persons per million of population.  The top region in the World where this surname is the most highly clustered is   the   French-Comté, France with  437.26 persons per million, and

NORTH AMERICA

FRANCE

click on thumbnail for larger image

Le Val-d'Ajol, Lorraine, France is the top city where this surname is found.

Click on the LINK to the right to see more information about the World distribution of a surname.  You can get

greater detail for any of the following maps by clicking on the area, i.e state, county that you are interested in.

Where are my ancestors Ancestors

Resources which enhance our knowledge of the places inhabited by our ancestors are almost as important as their names. The LINK to the right will take you to Maps, Gazetteers,   and  other  helpful   resources 

that will assist in discovering Ancestral Locations.  These web sites comprise only a small portion of what is available for researchers interested in learning more about where their ancestors lived.

An Introduction

to the Surname

Source/Meaning

of the Surname

History of

the Surname

More About

Surnames

An Introduction to the Surname

Source(s) & Meaning(s) of the Surname

     As in other European countries French surnames developed from four major sources: (1) Occupational Surnames are also very common among French surnames, these last names are based on the person’s job or trade for instance Jean Tailleur i.e.  John the tailor. (2) Patronymic & Matronymic Surnames that are based on a parent’s name, these are the most common origins of French surnames. The greater part of French patronymic and matronymic surnames are derived directly from the parent's given name like Michel Adolphe, i.e. Micheal son of Adolf.   In some cases prefixes and suffixes are attached to a given name to create a patronymic surname such as Jacques de Edmé which means James the son of Edmond. (3) Geographical Surnames are those surnames based on a the place where person came from like Claude from the city of Lyon, becomes Claude Lyon.  This type of name may also describe the location where the person resides within a village or town such as Jacques Jardin lives near a garden.  (4) Descriptive Surnames are usually based upon a “nickname” (i.e., Moody, Wise, Armstrong); status (i.e. Freeman, Bond, Knight); and acquired ornamental names that were simply made up, for example Charles Leblanc come from Charles the white.

History of the Surname

Coming from the Medieval French word 'surnom' translating as "above-or-over name," surnames or descriptive names trace their use back to 11th century France, when it first became necessary to add a second name to distinguish between individuals with the same given name. The custom of using surnames did not become common for several centuries, however.

Variations of the surname

Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to unfold and expand often leading to an overwhelming number of variants.  As such one can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames because in early times, spelling in general and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized.  Later on spellings would change with the branching and movement of families.

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Armorial bearings, symbols and mottoes

In the Middle Ages heraldry came into use as a practical matter. It originated in the devices used to distinguish the armored warriors in tournament and war, and was also placed on seals as marks of identity. As far as records show, true heraldry began in the middle of the 12th century, and appeared almost simultaneously in several countries of Western Europe.  In the British Isles the College of Arms, (founded in 1483), is the Royal corporation of heralds who record proved pedigrees and grant armorial bearings

Gallery of Images

Descriptions of the

Armorial Bearings

Motto(es) of

this Surname

More About Heraldic Bearings

Image gallery

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

ARMORIAL BEARINGS

The associated armorial bearings for this surname and close variant spellings are recorded in Burke’s General Armoire and Rietstap’s Armorial General.  The additional information, presented below, is offered with regard to the armorial bearings depicted above:

This coat-of-arms belonged to a Mougenot of the Lorraine region of France.  The shield is silver and contains three black fox* heads.  * The fox signifies one who will use all that he/she may possess of wisdom and wit in his/her own defense.

These armorial bearings were bestowed upon Ennemond Mogniat in 1738. This Mognait was an alderman (échevin) of Lyon, France.  These rather complex arms are described as having a blue shield with a gold chevron. There are two gold stars flanking the top of the chevron and a silver crescent at the bottom.  A silver chief is charged with three natural white roses* with stems and leaves (slipped proper).  *The roses are prominent in the arms and as such may signify the owner as the seventh son; that they are white conveys love and faith.

These arms have been attributed to Maurice Moignat, Esquire of the Alsace region in France.  The rather simple design of the gold shield incorporates three blue escutcheons* placed 2 and 1.  * An escutcheon is a small shield, alone, with no charges.  The heraldic meaning of this device is  “defense.”

This coat-of-arms was granted, in 1867, by Pope Pius IX to Pèdre-Michel-Charles Moisant, a Comte Romain  of Touraine one of the traditional provinces of France.  The shield is blue with a gold crosslet* in the center, two pierced silver stars in the chief and one in the base.  * The utilization of the crosslet type of cross signifies the fourfold mystery of the cross.

MOTTO(ES)  

     A motto is a word or sentence usually written upon a scroll and generally placed below the shield, but sometimes, especially in Scotland, above the crest.    Many ancient mottoes were war-cries such as the Douglas motto of “Forward.”    Many mottoes refer to the name of the bearer, for example “cole regem” for Coleridge.   In general most mottoes convey a sentiment, hope, or determination, such as the Cotter motto “Dum spiro spero” where the meaning is “While I have breath I hope“.     Mottoes are often used by several successive generations, but may be changed at any time by the grantee. The languages most in use are Latin, French, and English.  Exceptions are seen in Scotland where they are often in the old Lowland dialect, and in Wales, often in the language of the principality.   

There are no known mottoes attributed to the French surname of Mougenat, or its variant spellings.    For more information about mottoes associated with French surnames see the LINKS below.

Heraldic bearings

The art of designing, displaying, describing, and recording arms is called heraldry. The use of coats of arms by countries, states, provinces, towns and villages is called civic heraldry.   A Coat of Arms is defined as a group of emblems and figures (heraldic bearings) usually arranged on and around a shield and serving as the special insignia of some person, family, or institution.  Except for a few cases, there is really no such thing as a standard "coat of arms" for a surname.  A coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, is a design usually granted only to a single person not to an entire family or to a particular surname.  Coats of arms are inheritable property, and they generally descend to male lineal descendents of the original arms grantee.  The rules and traditions regarding Coats of Arms vary from country to country. Therefore a Coat of Arms for an English family would differ from that of a German family even when the surname is the same. 

Some of the more prominent elements incorporated into a  coat of arms are :

Crest - The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a coat of arms.  The crest was a later development arising from the love of pageantry.  Initially the crest consisted of charges painted onto a ridge on top of the helmet.

Wreath or Torse – The torse is a twist of cloth or wreath underneath and part of a crest. Always shown as six twists, the first tincture being the tincture of the field, the second the tincture of the metal, and so on.

Mantling – The mantling is a drapery tied to the helmet above the shield. It forms a backdrop for the shield.

Helm or Helmet - The helmet or helm is situated above the shield and bears the torse and crest. The style of helmet displayed varies according to rank and social status, and these styles developed over time, in step with the development of actual military helmets.

Shield or Arms - The basis of all coats of arms.  At their simplest, arms consist of a shield with a plain field on which appears a geometrical shape or object.  The items appearing on the shield are known as charges.

Motto - The motto was originally a war cry, but later mottoes often expressed some worthy sentiment. It may appear at the top or bottom of a family coat of arms.

Searching for more information about heraldry? Click on the button at the  right to look at our webpage featuring links   to   websites   having   images

of a wide variety of arms, crests, and badges.  They may also feature additional heraldry resources as noted in the accompanying descriptions.

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·             Our Surname Locator And Resources web page contains the following: (1) links that will take you to an updated listing of all surnames as posted in our three databases at the Rootsweb WorldConnect Project; (2) the Surname List Finder a tool that finds sound-alike matches for a given surname from among RootsWeb's thousands of surname lists; (3) the Soundex Converter that can be used to find the soundex code for a surname, plus other surnames/spellings sharing the same soundex code;  (4) Surname Message Boards the world's largest online genealogy community with over 17 Million posts on more than 161,000 boards; (5) Surname Mailing Lists of all surnames having mailing lists at RootsWeb, as well as topics that include (6) Surname Heraldry, and  (7) Mapping a Surname. 

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-- This webpage was last updated on --

01 January 2013