Margaret Fortier 

Presentation

Are you trying to locate your French-Canadian ancestors and running into brick walls? Between name changes in the US and not understanding French, it can be daunting. French-Canadian Genealogy will give you the tools you need to overcome these obstacles.

We will look at finding your French-Canadian ancestors if you know their origin in Quebec and if you don’t. We’ll cover all kinds of name changes: dit names, variations, translated names, anglicized names, first names. Find out how Daignealt became Lapris. With numerous examples, we’ll review records in French and show how technology can help you understand them. We will explore the concept of survivance in French-Canadian culture, why they emigrated to the US, and how French-Canadian immigration was fundamentally different from European immigration. Quebec records, a veritable goldmine for genealogists, are introduced and illustrated. Get started with your French-Canadian genealogy and, who knows, you may trace your family back to France!

Speaker

Named after her grandmothers and inspired by her mother’s phenomenal memory, Margaret Rose Fortier is a Board-certified genealogical researcher, writer, and lecturer. She specializes in immigrant ancestors to New England. A graduate of Boston College and Bentley University, she holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. She serves on the board of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She is co-editor of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and an instructor for the Spring 2025 course, "Tracing Your French-Canadian Ancestors" at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy.

Registration opens October 1st, for members of CDGS. If there is space remaining, non-members can register starting October 15th. Registration closes at 11pm, 2 days prior to the event.