Kahnawake surnames facts for kids

The Kahnawake reserve, located south of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is home to people with many different family names. These names, like Mohawk, French, Scottish, and English, show its long and interesting history. This includes times when European children were welcomed into the community and when people from Kahnawake married settlers from nearby areas. The community is found along the St. Lawrence River near the St-Louis rapids. Its history began in 1667 as a Jesuit mission called Mission Saint-François-Xavier du Sault-Saint-Louis. The first mission was in what is now La Prairie and was known as Kentake by its first Oneida residents.

Exploring Kahnawake's Rich History

The Story of Kahnawake

During the 1670s, the Catholic mission grew as many Mohawk families arrived. They quickly became the largest group, outnumbering more than twenty other Native groups living there. After moving four times, the mission settled in its current spot in 1716. It was then named Kahnawake, which means "at the rapids." People from Kahnawake call themselves Kahnawakehro:non in the Mohawk language. Some families from Kahnawake later helped start Akwesasne, another community located further up the river. This community is also known as the St. Regis Reservation and reaches into New York State. Descendants from Kahnawake also moved to the Kanesatake reserve.

How Surnames Tell a Story

The family names in Kahnawake tell a special story about its past. Many of these names show how different cultures came together. Some names came from European families who joined the community. Others came from people who married into Kahnawake families. A priest named Father Forbes first wrote about the origins of some European family names in Kahnawake in 1899. Below, we explore the history of some of the most common family names in Kahnawake that have European or North American roots.

The Beauvais Family Story

The first person with the Beauvais name was André Karhaton. He married Marie-Anne Kahenratas before 1743. André was a young man from the Beauvais family in La Prairie. He was adopted and grew up in Kahnawake.

The Canadien Family Story

This name comes from the wife of Charles Tehosteroton. She was the granddaughter of a person known as Big John Canadian. Her father's name is not known.

The Curotte Family Story

The Curotte name comes from the French names Cureau or Curot. Pierre Curotte Taronhiorens married Marie-Joseph Karenhatirontha before 1748. Pierre's early life is not fully known.

The D'Ailleboust Family Story

This name comes from Ignace Soteriioskon dit D'Ailleboust. He was born around 1733 and passed away in 1797. His parents were Catherine Kawennakaion and Antoine D'Ailleboust, a resident of La Prairie. The name is now often spelled Diabo.

The De La Ronde Family Story

This name is from Paul Niioherasha. He was the son of voyageur Charles-François Denys de la Ronde Thibaudière and Magdeleine Pemadjisoanokwe from Kanesatake. Their ancestors included Simon and Jeanne Dubreuil, who arrived in Canada in 1651. Today, the name is spelled Delaronde or Laronde.

The De Lorimier Family Story

Claude-Nicolas-Guillaume de Lorimier was a French-Canadian officer and landowner. He was born in Lachine in 1744. He led Native troops during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolution. In 1783, he married Marie-Louise Schuyler, an Iroquois woman. They moved to Kahnawake. He later married Anne Skaouennetsi in 1801. He passed away in Kahnawake in 1825. His sons later sold their properties and moved away. Modern families like Delormier and Dell adopted this name in the early 1900s.

The Delisle Family Story

This name comes from Jacques Tewennitashen. He was born around 1746 and passed away in 1826. It is believed he was the son of an English person who joined the Kahnawake community. In 1766, he married Catherine Skawenniooha from Kahnawake.

The Giasson Family Story

Ignace Giasson married Marie-Louise de Sacquespée in January 1792 in Montréal. They had two sons. Ignace Jr. married Marie Pollard and lived in Châteauguay. Charles-Gédéon married Agathe McComber, whose mother was Charlotte Tsionnonna from Kahnawake. Marie-Angélique, daughter of Ignace (senior), became the second wife of Jarvis McComber in 1812.

The Hill Family Story

Jacob Hill, later known as Kannetakon, joined the Kahnawake community after an expedition to Schenectady. He married Marie Anastasie Konkaientha in 1766. Some of his descendants later took the surname JACOB.

The La Saussaye Family Story

Charles, also known as Wanoronk, first appears in records in 1783. He is believed to be a Huron from Lorette. His parents were Oskwesannete and Marie.

The Mailloux Family Story

Amable Mailloux married Félicité Rollin in Châteauguay in 1793. Their three sons, François-Xavier Tiorateken, Louis Onokohte, and Pierre Ohahakehte, were raised by Antoine Otes dit Zacharie in Kahnawake. They married Native women from the area. The name is now spelled Mayo or Myiow.

The McComber Family Story

This name comes from Jarvis McComber. He was born in Massachusetts to a Protestant family. His father fought in the American War of Independence. Around 1796, at sixteen, McComber moved to Kahnawake. He was hired by Thomas Arakwente, a Mohawk Chief and fur trader, who later adopted him. McComber decided to stay in Kahnawake and married Arakwente's daughter. In 1805, he became a Catholic. He spoke English, French, and Iroquois. He became an important trader and landowner. In 1813, he became a Lieutenant and interpreter. He served in battles, including leading Mohawk Warriors. He married three times and had twenty-eight children. He passed away in 1866 at ninety-five.

The McGregor Family Story

Pierre Anatorenha McGregor and his sister Marie joined the Kahnawake community. They were among many people who came to Montreal and Kahnawake. They were adopted by a Mohawk family in Kahnawake.

The Montour Family Story

Andre Satsienhowane, whose name means "He Makes a Big Fire," was born in 1678 and passed away in 1776. He married Marie Anne Kaherine Corn Stack, who passed away in 1765. A Captain Andrew Montour, who was of Huron and French background, worked as an interpreter. He served in the Braddock Expedition of 1755.

The Merry or Murray Family Story

Trueman, also known as Sotsitsionwane, was the son of Ephraim and Diane Merry from Boston. He became a Catholic and was baptized as Pierre in 1805. He married Marie Saiorio in 1805, Marie Tikos in 1838, and Marie Tsiawenhatie in 1840.

The Monique Family Story

Louis Onwaskannha was born in 1760 and passed away in 1810. He married Dorothee Kariwaienhne. He was a Huron from the village of Jeunne-Lorrette (now Wendake). He moved to Kahnawake in the early 1800s.

The Nicholas-Nicolas Family Story

The name Tekanatokin became Nicholas. In the 1901 census, Francois-Xavier Nicolas, 46, was listed with his wife Louise, 44. In the 1891 census, he was Xavier Tekanatoken, 28, with his wife Monique, 25. The name changed over time in records. Another example from the same family shows Marianne Nicolas in 1901, while in 1891 she was Marie Anne Tekanatoken.

The Philippe Family Story

Pierre Sonorese Philippe was born around 1733 and passed away in 1786. He married Anna Atsiaha around 1755. Not much is known about him, but he might have come from the United States. The name is now spelled Philip.

The Rice Family Story

Silas and Timothy Rice were English children who joined the Kahnawake community on August 8, 1704. This happened during a raid from Marlborough, Massachusetts. They were brought to Kahnawake and adopted by Mohawk families. They also became Catholics. Silas, nine years old, was given the Mohawk name Thanhohorens and the Catholic name Jacques. He passed away in 1779. Timothy, seven years old, was named Oseronhokion and later became a chief. Both brothers became part of the community and married local Mohawk women. Their cousins, Ashur and Adonijah Rice, were also brought to Kahnawake and adopted. Adonijah grew up and married in Kahnawake. His brother Ashur returned to Massachusetts after four years.

The Simon Family Story

In the 1901 census, Michel Simon, 55, was listed with his wife Anne, 47. In the 1891 census, he was Michel Simon, 40. In the 1881 census, he was Michel Anaietha, 31. Another person, Pierre Simon, 48, appears in the 1901 census. In the 1891 census, he was Pierre Simon, 37. In the 1881 census, he was Simon Anaietha, 27. The name changed in different records, showing variations like Simon-Anaietha-Anayehta.

The Stacey Family Story

John Aionwatha Stacey, an English boy, joined the Kahnawake community near Albany around 1755 during the Seven Years' War. Stacey was brought to Kahnawake with Jacob Hill and adopted by the Mohawk. He married Agnes Karakwannentha, then Louise Daudelin in 1784, and Marie Angélique D'Ailleboust des Musseaux in 1769. He had a total of fourteen children.

The Tarbell Family Story

John and Zachary Tarbell were English brothers who joined the Kahnawake community as boys. Their older sister Sarah also joined them. This happened during a raid from Groton, Massachusetts in June 1707, during Queen Anne's War. After arriving in Kahnawake, the boys were adopted into Mohawk families and became Catholics. They were also given Mohawk names. (Sarah was later welcomed by a French family and became a Catholic. She joined the Congregation of Notre Dame in 1708.) As adults, the brothers married daughters of Mohawk chiefs, had children, and became chiefs themselves. In the 1750s, they led about 30 families to start the new community of Akwesasne. Many Tarbell descendants live in both Kahnawake and Akwesasne today.

The Williams Family Story

Eunice Williams was the daughter of a minister. She joined the Kahnawake community during a raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts, on February 28, 1704. Eunice was seven years old. She was adopted by a Mohawk family, became a Catholic, and was renamed Marguerite (and also received the Mohawk name Kanenstenhawi). She married Francois, a Mohawk man. Eunice became fully integrated into the Mohawk way of life. She chose to stay in the community rather than return to New England. She passed away on November 26, 1785, at 89 years old. The Williams name in Kahnawake and Kanesatake comes from her and her children.

The Zacharie Family Story

Otes Zacharie was a retired Huron chief. He was married to a Kahnawake woman named Charlotte. They had two sons: Antoine Otes, also known as Aientas or Tekaronhonte, and Michel Kaniatariio.