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Subject: [HWE] The 'Particule' !
Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 02:16:25 EDT


A question that begs to be answered, that of the supposedly 'nobiliary'
predicate.
DE/DU/D'/DE LA/DES - these are all prefixes to many French sounding names.
They all refer to geographical references, place names, be it a field, (du
Champs) a wood (du/des Bois) a waterway, (de la fontaine= fountain, de la
riviere(of the river), de l'Etang (of the pond). They DO NOT DENOTE a
'nobiliary' pretension.

Most 'Noble' families noble before the 16C did not have this prefix. A
classic example was my own family - the original name was ORIOLI, which in
itself does not show that the bearer of the name is 'Noble'. It was only in
the late 16C and thr 17C that the Central government decided to make some
money out of this 'ennobling' and set down some basic rules. It was the 18C
that led to the emergence of an extremely powerful Bourgeoisie (Middle
Class) that need to be controlled and given, if purchased, certain nobiliary
rights that led to this concept that the 'de' was a method of showing that
the bearer of the name was a Noble. Moliere so aptly derided these Nouveaux
riches with aspirations that went beyond the inane! Even now there are at
least 50/60 applications from French citizens to appose this 'de' in front of
their name.
Many Newly ennobled purchased fiefs and apposed the names of the fiefs to
their patronymic, thus Mr Favre (Mr Smith)became the proud possessor of the
chateau and fief of Montrichard...He became M. Favre de Montrichard, and
possibly a litlle later just 'plain' Mr de MONTRICHARD! ...and yet there are
some very old Noble families that have this patronymic of FAVRE!
As for Escutcheons/ coats of Arms - these agin DO NOT NECESSARILY DENOTE that
the bearer was a 'Gentleman'/Noble . the Armorial of Jougla de Morena aptly
shows the Bourgeois and noble coats of Arms . The only difference is that in
a full achievement, the helmet of rank above the shield shows the social
status of the individual, from Duke down to Squire and to the bourgeoisie. A
good heraldry book in a local library would show the differences. It must be
remembered that both nobles and the Bourgeoisie had coats of arms from at
least the 14C.
Pierre

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